AI Readiness Canvas

Assess and advance your AI journey along 6 dimensions

The six AI-readiness framework dimensions

Direction
Strategy & Vision

Where are we going?

AI vision, strategic priorities, leadership alignment, and investment decisions.

Execution
Adoption & Implementation

How do we do it?

From individual experiments to autonomous systems. Help → Automate → Rethink.

Foundation
Data & Infrastructure

What do we build on?

Data quality and accessibility, technical infrastructure, system integration, and scalability.

Capability
People & Skills

Who does the work?

AI literacy, training programs, champions, and learning culture.

Control
Governance & Ethics

How do we stay safe?

Governance structures, policies, risk management, and ethical guidelines.

Agility
Scale & Flexibility

Can we adapt?

Production readiness, vendor flexibility, and ability to adopt new capabilities.

AI Readiness Canvas

Click any dimension or maturity level for detailed assessment criteria

	1. Exploring	2. Building	3. Scaling	4. Mastering	5. Leading
Direction: Strategy & Vision"Where are we going?"	Ad HocNo AI strategy; reactive experiments; individual enthusiasm	OpportunisticIdentified use cases; piloting; no cohesive strategy	DefinedDocumented AI strategy; prioritized use cases; clear governance	ManagedPortfolio approach; Build/Buy/Partner framework; ROI tracking	OptimizingAI integral to business strategy; continuous refinement
Execution: Adoption & Implementation"How do we do it?"	IndividualBasic prompting; understanding capabilities; individual productivity	GuidedBasic workflows connecting tools; simple automations	ConnectedAPIs and custom integrations; workflows embedded in business processes	IntegratedDedicated agents for specific tasks; orchestrated workflows	AutonomousMulti-agent systems; dynamic delegation; minimal oversight
Foundation: Data & Infrastructure"What do we build on?"	SiloedScattered data; legacy systems; no APIs or integration	AccessibleBasic data available; core systems have APIs; manual preparation	PreparedClean data with metadata; infrastructure handles workloads; key APIs in place	OptimizedAI-optimized data; scalable infrastructure; full system integration	IntelligentSelf-optimizing systems; automated quality; AI-native architecture
Capability: People & Skills"Who does the work?"	UnawareLimited AI awareness; no training programs; ad hoc experimentation	AwareGeneral AI literacy; basic tool training; risk understanding	DevelopingRole-based curricula; power users emerging; champions network active	CapableAI embedded in daily work; citizen developers; mature change management	LeadingOrg-wide AI fluency; continuous learning culture; thought leaders
Control: Governance & Ethics"How do we stay safe?"	AbsentNo AI governance; ad hoc decisions; no ethics considerations	ReactiveBasic policies; created in response to issues; minimal ethics awareness	DefinedClear decision bodies; documented policies; approval workflows	ManagedRisk-based governance; accountability framework; human-in-the-loop defined	ProactiveGovernance enables innovation; ethics embedded; continuous improvement
Agility: Scale & Flexibility"Can we adapt?"	ExperimentalPilots only; no production systems; high vendor lock-in	DeployedSome production systems; tightly coupled to specific vendors	ScaledMultiple production systems; beginning abstraction layers	FlexibleVendor-agnostic architecture; can swap components; regular tech review	AdaptiveRapid evaluation and adoption; organizational agility; future-proofed