A graduation path for AI initiatives, with an evidence gate at every step Diagram

Not automatic progress

Every gate can promote, send back, hold for remediation or stop
Criteria are agreed before the pilot starts

Evidence at each gate

Gate 1: sponsor, defined problem, prototype evaluation, cost to date
Gate 2: adopter evidence, security review, observability, unit cost, support model

Retirement is governance

Archived is a governed outcome, not a failure
Stage names are a CloudNala adaptation inspired by the CNCF project lifecycle, not CNCF levels or an endorsement