TL;DR: A shipped AI solution is production-ready, documented, owned by a named internal person, and in active daily use. Demos, prototypes, and unused tools do not count.
Category: AI Operations · Published: 2026-05-05 · Author: Stairway to AI
Read the full article on the live site for the complete narrative, worked examples, and methodology.
Frequently asked
What counts as a shipped AI solution?
Production-ready, documented, named internal owner, and in active daily use.
How is a shipped AI solution different from a proof of concept?
A POC shows technical possibility. A shipped solution is in daily use with someone accountable.
What is the most common reason shipped AI solutions fail?
Lack of named ownership. Without it, prompts and errors decay quietly within months.
How many shipped AI solutions should a mid-size team aim for in a year?
Six to twelve in active use after six months with a fractional AI operations lead.
Do you count automation workflows or only AI assistants?
Both, if they pass the four-box test.