Definition
AI-ready data is not the same as clean data in general: it has to fit the use case. That means the right data exists and can be reached, it is complete and current enough, its meaning is documented, access rights are known, and its use is lawful.
Gartner predicted in February 2025 that through 2026 organisations will abandon 60% of AI projects unsupported by AI-ready data. Data readiness is consistently among the most cited reasons AI pilots fail to reach production.