Operational AI
Definition
Operational AI is artificial intelligence deployed in production business operations, as opposed to pilots, experiments, or research projects. Operational AI is measured by business outcomes, not technical metrics.
Why it matters
The business case for Operational AI.
The vast majority of AI projects never become operational AI. The transition from pilot to production is where most enterprise AI dies.
Related terms in Operational Intelligence
Operational Intelligence
Operational Intelligence is the practice of embedding AI directly into business operations to drive measurable, repeatable outcomes. It is the real-time loop between data, decision, and action.
Business Intelligence (BI)
Business Intelligence is the retrospective analysis of historical data to understand what happened in a business and why. BI produces reports and dashboards.
Real-Time Decision Making
Real-Time Decision Making is the ability to evaluate data and execute decisions within the operational window where those decisions matter, typically seconds to minutes.
Workflow Automation
Workflow Automation is the use of technology to execute defined business processes with minimal human intervention. AI workflow automation extends this to decision-heavy workflows that previously required human judgment.
Operational Metrics
Operational Metrics measure how well a business runs day-to-day. The four core operational metrics are cost per transaction, throughput, error rate, and time to decision.