Where would AI earn its place?
Separate a valuable use case from an attractive demonstration. Test the value, the evidence and the operating conditions behind one decision.
How the score is used
This is a structured discussion aid, not a statistically validated scoring model. Five equally weighted criteria give a value total and five give a readiness total. The map uses 7/10 as a discussion threshold; the recommendation also applies six gates: material value, timely signal, technical fit, workflow, ownership, and measurement / controls. Each gate needs supporting evidence (2) before the tool suggests bounded validation. Unknown answers leave the assessment incomplete.
A high score does not calculate ROI, approve an AI system or show that AI beats a simpler approach. Compare rules, retrieval, optimisation, prediction and generation against the same operational baseline. Include implementation, operating and control costs in the next-stage case.
The emphasis on context, accountable ownership, measurement and human oversight is consistent with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. The scoring and thresholds here are Cosmicalley’s discussion heuristic, not a NIST assessment.
An AI idea is the start. A supported decision is the outcome.
SIGNAL connects the opportunity to operational evidence, a value case and an AI Opportunity Map.