Session 2 — Finding the Right AI Use Case: Workflow, Data & Readiness

Central Interior Business Accelerator Society presents The Discovery Foundation's Applied AI Implementation Clinics Program - Summer Series

Session 2 — Finding the Right AI Use Case: Workflow, Data & Readiness

TRU Campus - Arts & Education Building - Room AE262

Session Overview

Not every problem is an AI problem — and jumping to a solution before you've mapped the real issue is one of the most common and costly mistakes SMEs make. This session gives you a structured way to evaluate whether AI is actually the right fit, what your data situation needs to look like before you start, and how to weigh privacy, security, and risk before committing resources. You'll walk away knowing how to separate genuinely automatable workflows from those that aren't ready yet.

What to Expect

A working session built around your own organization. You'll map a real workflow from current state to future state, run it through a practical feasibility screen, and pressure-test whether your data and readiness conditions support moving forward. Expect structured exercises, peer feedback, and honest conversation about what's viable now versus later.

What We'll Cover

• How to identify a real business problem worth solving with AI — not just an interesting one
• Workflow mapping: current state vs future state
• Data readiness basics — what you need, what you're missing, and what that means for your timeline
• Privacy, security, and risk considerations specific to SMEs
• Feasibility screening: what's automatable, what's augmentable, and what's not yet viable

Takeaways

A mapped workflow, a clearer picture of your data and readiness gaps, and a documented use case evaluated against practical feasibility criteria — ready to move into planning or set aside with confidence.

Your Action Item

Define one priority AI use case for your organization, including the current workflow, expected outcome, and key data or readiness considerations.

Why It Matters

This session directly addresses the core learning outcomes of the program — realistic use-case identification, data readiness, privacy obligations, and responsible AI evaluation. Getting this right is what separates successful pilots from expensive dead ends.

Presenter - Rob Cupello