Where Do I Start With AI? (Hint: It’s Not a Vendor Demo)

“Where do I start?” It’s the question haunting every boardroom and project kickoff in 2026. Usually, the response is a flurry of expensive activity: a department head signs up for a vendor demo, someone suggests an “AI pilot,” or the IT team begins tinkering with new LLM APIs. But if you start there, you’ve already skipped the most important step. You are likely already writing the “blank checks” that lead to failed implementations and wasted capital.
The answer to “Where do I start?” isn’t a piece of software or a training program. The answer is Phase Zero, powered by the StAIR-Ready™ methodology.

Why Most AI Projects Fail Before the Kickoff

In traditional project management, we start with a charter. In Artificial Intelligence, starting there is a mistake. Most organizations jump straight to Phase One (Implementation). They pick a “shiny” use case and throw money at it. But Phase Zero exists to answer the foundational questions leaders often skip in the rush to “do something”:

• The “Why”: Why are we considering AI now?
• The Problem: What friction points are we actually trying to solve?
• The Alignment: Where are we misaligned internally?
• The Risk: Should we move forward, or is it time to pause and refocus?

Phase Zero is an intentional, strategic pause. It’s the diagnostic period where you determine if your organization’s foundation can support an AI transplant before you invest time, money, or your professional credibility.

The StAIR-Ready™ Framework: Four Non-Technical Pillars

To move from hype to a roadmap, you need the StAIR-Ready™ Phase Zero diagnostic. Unlike a technical audit, StAIR-Ready™ evaluates readiness across four human-centric dimensions:

• Strategy & Intent: We clarify the “why” to ensure you aren’t chasing a trend. We surface the gaps between leadership’s vision and operational reality.
• Governance & Oversight: Who owns the decisions? We evaluate accountability and boundaries. Without clear governance, AI projects become “shadow IT” nightmares.
• Organizational Readiness: Is your culture ready? AI adoption is 20% tech and 80% change management. We gauge if your “engine” is ready to turn over.
• Human & Ethical Considerations: What is the impact on your people? We evaluate trust, responsibility, and the ethical footprint of your AI journey.

What This Is NOT (The Integrity Principle)

StAIR-Ready™ is a diagnostic, not an audit or a technical roadmap. It is designed to protect organizations from avoidable mistakes—not to accelerate adoption at any cost. We prioritize accuracy and safety over promotion. Our goal is to improve your decision quality so you can decide whether to proceed, pause, or seek further guidance.

Stop Guessing. Get Your Baseline.

You wouldn’t start a construction project without a soil sample. You shouldn’t start an AI journey without a Phase Zero diagnostic. Radical honesty in Phase Zero saves millions in Phase One. You need to know your starting line before you can measure your finish line. Before you commit to an AI roadmap, you need a baseline.

I invite you to spend 10 minutes with our Phase Zero diagnostic to surface your organization’s hidden blind spots. Get your StAIR-Ready™ Assessment here →www.wheredoistartai.com

Next up in Article 2: Now that you’ve found the starting line, we talk numbers. “What does AI actually cost?” (Hint: It’s more than the subscription fee).

By George Fountain, Founder — Fountain Innovation Group (FIG) AI Readiness • Phase Zero Strategy • Responsible AI

📖 Read on LinkedIn

Visit fig-io.com for more insights