CEO CHECKLIST

AI Pre-Flight Checklist

The essential questions every SME CEO should answer before investing in AI agents

Think of these as runway lights — if they're not all green, the AI agent project shouldn't take off yet.

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1

What's the business problem, not the tech wish?

Can I clearly name a single pain point or KPI I want to move in the next 6–12 months? Is it worth solving even without AI?

2

Do we have a measurable success target?

What does "done" look like? Can we measure it in hard numbers (time saved, revenue gained, errors reduced)?

3

Is my data accessible and trustworthy?

Do we know where the relevant data lives and who owns it? Is it clean, current, and legally safe to use?

4

Do I have the people and time to run a pilot?

Who will own the project and be accountable for results? Who will review and approve AI outputs during early stages?

5

Can we afford to learn?

What's my maximum budget for a 6–8 week experiment (time + money)? Am I comfortable if the pilot only produces learning, not ROI?

6

Are there low-risk, high-impact use cases to start with?

Can I find at least one process that's repetitive, rules-based, and measurable? Will automating or assisting in this process create visible wins for the team?

7

Do we understand the risks?

What's the worst-case scenario if the AI makes a mistake here? Will it damage customers, compliance, or brand trust?