The default failure mode​

The default enterprise sequence looks like this:

1. Hear about a vendor or foundation model
2. Run a demo on sanitized data
3. Declare a pilot
4. Discover ERP keys, ownership gaps, and governance questions under deadline pressure

By step four, sunk cost dominates rational review.

Flip the sequence​

Evidence before implementation means the first deliverable is not a model—it is a reviewed answer to:

• What business outcome changes if this works?
• What data fields and transaction history are required—and are they trustworthy?
• Who approves action when the recommendation is wrong?
• What happens on failure (customer impact, financial exposure, compliance trigger)?
• What evidence would convince a skeptic?

If those answers are weak, the correct next step is discovery—not procurement.

A runnable public tool​

I shipped the BBI AI Readiness Diagnostic Kit (v0.1.0) to make that gate tangible:

python -m bbi_ai_readiness.cli examples/sample-assessment.json

It scores six dimensions—business value, data readiness, human oversight, risk/governance, delivery readiness, and evidence quality—and applies critical-floor rules so a high average cannot hide a fatal gap.

Example output:

Overall score: 69.2 / 100
Readiness band: CONDITIONAL
Recommendation: Proceed only with a bounded discovery or prototype phase.

Scores are decision aids, not certifications or compliance determinations.

What changed in my own builds​

Applying the same gate to my portfolio forced uncomfortable clarity:

• Public repos need a hero use case, tests, and explicit limitations
• Sanitized ERP patterns belong in docs; private extracts do not
• "Planned" must be labeled planned—recruiters deserve honesty

The Public Proof Gate checklist codifies that boundary for every release.

Practical next step​

Pick one AI use case on your roadmap. Run an assessment JSON through the diagnostic CLI. Read the missing-evidence warnings before you read vendor pricing.

If the band is DISCOVERY or NOT READY, that is a successful result—you bought clarity cheaply.

Links​

• AI Readiness Diagnostic docs
• Brilliant Brainstorm Intelligence on GitHub
• BBI Edge