As someone who's been in the trenches of both traditional IT projects and cutting-edge AI initiatives, I've had a bit of a "penny drop" moment recently. AI projects are a whole different beast, and they're flipping the script on how we approach project management.
The Traditional IT Project Lifecycle
Back in my days of building enterprise websites, the process was pretty straightforward:
Discovery
Production
QA testing against original specs
Delivery
User acceptance testing (UAT)
It was a neat, linear process. You'd do your thing, test it against what you initially planned, and then hand it over to the users for final approval.
The AI Project Flip
With AI, though? We're turning that model on its head. Here's how it typically goes:
Discovery
Production
Basic QA (Is it working? Is it secure?)
Delivery
Extensive UAT and fine-tuning
The big shift is in that last step. UAT isn't just a final checkbox anymore—it's become a major phase of the project. Why? Because AI is inherently engineer-led, not scientist-led. It needs that hands-on tinkering to get it just right.
The Beauty of Rapid Iteration
One thing I absolutely love about working with AI is the speed of advancement. In the old days, making significant changes could take months. Now? This kit moves faster than anything I've seen before.Â
Teething Issues and Fine-Tuning
When you're dealing with emerging tech like AI, you often get a basket of what I call "teething issues." It's not just one big problem; it's a collection of little things that need tweaking.
The technical teams have all these levers they can pull—adjusting sensitivity here, dialling things up or down there. It's fascinating to watch how they can fine-tune the system to get it where it needs to be.Â
The Bottom Line
Managing AI projects requires a different mindset. You need to be flexible, ready to iterate quickly, and prepared for a bit of tinkering. But if you embrace the process, the results can be game-changing. The impact can be huge, and it can happen faster than you ever thought possible.
So, digital experts, it's time to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty. The future of project management is here, and it's speaking in ones and zeros—with maybe a bit of Spanish thrown in for good measure.
