Quick answer
An AI readiness assessment is a structured review of whether your business is prepared to use AI well. It looks at goals, data quality, systems, skills, security and governance, and ends with a short list of gaps to fix and a sensible first project to try.
Key takeaways
- Start with the business problem, not the technology.
- Data quality and access are the most common blockers.
- Someone must own the project and its results.
- Plan for privacy, security and review from day one.
What are the 10 questions?
- What problem are we trying to solve?
- How will we measure success?
- Where is the relevant data stored?
- Is the data accurate, current and complete?
- Are we allowed to use it for this purpose?
- Which systems must connect?
- Who owns the project?
- Do staff have the skills, or need training?
- What could go wrong, and who checks?
- What is the smallest useful first step?
How should you score the answers?
| Area | Ready | Needs work |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Clear and measurable | Vague or aspirational |
| Data | Organised and accessible | Scattered or inconsistent |
| Systems | Offer integrations | Closed or outdated |
| People | Owner and champions named | No clear ownership |
| Risk | Policy and review in place | Not considered |
Which gaps matter most?
Data problems and unclear ownership sink most projects. If your customer records live in five spreadsheets, an AI tool cannot use them well.
A good AI readiness assessment points to the cheapest fixes first.
What does a good first project look like?
- Narrow in scope.
- Based on data you already trust.
- Easy to measure.
- Safe to test with a small group.
Who should be involved?
Include the people who do the work, not just management. They know where time is lost and where an error would hurt.
A simple scoring method
Give each area a score from one to five. Anything scoring below three becomes a priority.
Do not worry about a perfect result. The goal of an AI readiness assessment is to know where you stand, so your first project avoids the weakest spots.
Bottom line
Readiness is mostly about clear goals, usable data and people who own the outcome. Fix those and your first project has a much better chance.
Sources and further reading
- Australian Government: Voluntary AI Safety Standard
- Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: Privacy
- NIST AI Risk Management Framework
Checked against the sources above and our own project experience. Last reviewed 7 October 2026.
