AI has incredible potential - but using it effectively isn’t about jumping straight to the latest tool. The biggest mistake organisations make? Starting with “Let’s use AI” instead of asking, “What problem are we solving?”
If you want real value from AI, you need to flip the script: problem first, AI second.
Why Problem-First Thinking Matters
It’s tempting to chase AI solutions because everyone’s talking about them. But using AI without a clear purpose is a recipe for wasted time, money, and effort. The key is to start with the problem, define your objectives and then explore how AI can help.
A Simple Framework to Turn Problems Into AI Capabilities
Here’s a practical approach you can follow:
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Define the objective – What problem are you solving? Why does it matter? Dig deep to uncover the real challenge.
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Ideation phase – What’s your desired output? What information do you need to make it happen?
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Build your example – Create a proof of concept to test the solution before scaling.
This structured approach ensures AI is applied with purpose, rather than being a shiny but ineffective add-on.
How AI Changes the Game
Before AI, building digital tools was often a complex and costly endeavor. Projects typically required coding expertise from the outset, early involvement of external developers, and significant budget commitments before a concept could even be proven. Teams also had to invest substantial internal resources just to validate whether an idea was feasible.
AI changes the game. Prototyping is now faster and more affordable, and teams can leverage the skills they already have to create working examples without relying on developers. This makes it easier to move from idea to proof of concept quickly, testing solutions before scaling. Once the concept is proven, organisations can turn their attention to governance frameworks, team training, rollout planning, and only involve software developers if absolutely necessary - ensuring that resources are spent where they add the most value.
Curious to See It in Action?
Join us for our upcoming webinar on Tuesday 27 January at 11am, designed for Internal Audit Teams ready to move beyond AI experimentation. We’ll guide you through a real worked example: transforming audit report writing with AI.
You’ll learn how to:
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Begin building a report-writing agent using accessible tools
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Create prompts that deliver consistent, high-quality drafts
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Turn simple agents into reliable, scalable audit tools
Meet our speakers:
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