What it means
An AI workflow is a defined sequence of steps in which AI performs one or more tasks, often combined with traditional software steps and human review. The overall path is designed in advance, even if individual steps use AI.
Real-world example
In a library's acquisitions process, incoming publisher catalogues are converted to text, an AI model extracts title, author, ISBN and subject, the data is checked against the existing catalogue, and a librarian reviews suggested purchases before approval. AI handles extraction; the sequence and the decision remain fixed.
Why it matters for AI adoption
Designed workflows are often more reliable, testable and easier to govern than open-ended agents, because each step can be checked. Many valuable AI uses are well-designed workflows rather than autonomous agents.
Questions to ask
- Which steps use AI, and which are checked by people or rules?
- What happens when an AI step produces an error or low-confidence result?