/22AI POC vs Pilot
Understand the practical difference between an AI proof of concept and an AI pilot, what each should prove, and when to stop doing demos.
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6 min
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AI POC vs Pilot
Understand the practical difference between an AI proof of concept and an AI pilot, what each should prove, and when to stop doing demos.
Start here
6 min
A proof of concept answers a technical uncertainty. A pilot answers an operational one. Confusing them is how a clever prototype becomes a production promise before anybody has proved the workflow, owner, controls or business result.
Leave knowing / Know whether you need a POC, a pilot or neither
The difference
Technical proof and operational proof are not the same job.
| Question | AI proof of concept | AI pilot |
|---|---|---|
| What are we proving? | A technical approach can perform a bounded task. | A changed workflow creates enough real value to keep. |
| Data | Representative or controlled examples may be enough. | Real operating data under approved conditions. |
| Users | Often builders and subject-matter experts. | The actual people who own and use the workflow. |
| Controls | Enough to test the technical question safely. | Operational review, permissions, recovery, escalation and stop conditions. |
| Success | The technical uncertainty is resolved. | The business result improves without unacceptable quality, risk or human effort. |
| End decision | Proceed to pilot, change approach or stop. | Keep, change, buy, build, expand or kill. |
Which one?
Use the smallest test that answers the uncertainty.
Use a POC
When the main unknown is technical: can the model extract this field, classify this document, use this integration or meet this latency target?
Use a pilot
When the technology basically works and the unknown is operational: does this workflow help real people enough to justify keeping it?
Use neither yet
When the workflow, owner, desired outcome or verification rule is still too vague to test meaningfully.
Next step / AI Pilot Pack
CAD $149 / One time / One real workflow
The free resource gives you a piece. The Pack makes the decision.
Put one real workflow through fit, risk, AI-versus-human boundaries, controls, build-versus-buy, capacity, evidence, stop conditions and a complete 30-day pilot plan.
The workbench is deterministic and your workflow answers stay in this browser. It can recommend that you do not automate the workflow.
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