A strong first AI project is usually boring in a good way.
It targets one expensive workflow, has clear boundaries, and can be measured in business terms.
The 30-minute scoping checklist
Answer these questions before writing any code:
- Which workflow consumes the most repetitive effort each week?
- What systems hold the input data and destination output?
- What failure is acceptable, and what requires human review?
- Which metric defines success: time saved, cost reduced, or turnaround speed?
Good first-project signals
- Work happens at high volume.
- Inputs are already digital.
- Process steps are known.
- Stakeholders can approve a clear success metric.
Red flags
- No clear owner.
- No baseline metrics.
- No agreement on review or escalation path.
If you avoid these red flags, your first workflow is much more likely to reach production and stay valuable.