What should the first version of an AI project include?

What should the first version of an AI project include?

The first version should let one type of user complete one useful task. A small collection of disconnected screens is not enough: the user needs to move from an input to a result they can actually use.

Choose one complete journey

For a practice video-creation application, a possible first journey is to enter a brief, review a generated script, produce a narrated video, and retrieve the final file. This example sets a boundary without prescribing the exact requirements of the course project.

Start with a limited set of options. One language and one output format can make the initial workflow easier to evaluate. Supporting every possible voice, duration, and visual style creates many combinations before you know whether the basic experience works.

Separate essentials from enhancements

Ask whether the user can finish the chosen task without each proposed feature. Saved project state and a clear generation result may be essential. A template marketplace or an elaborate analytics dashboard may be independent additions.

Keep deferred ideas in a separate list with a reason for revisiting them. This preserves useful ideas without allowing them to expand the current milestone indefinitely.

Include recovery in the minimum scope

“Minimum” should not mean pretending failures cannot happen. The first version needs basic validation, a visible failure state, and a practical recovery path. It should also prevent one user from accessing another user's private project.

Write a short completion checklist: a valid input reaches a usable result, the result remains available after reload, invalid input receives a clear response, and a failed generation does not appear complete. Once that journey is reliable, use feedback to choose the next feature.