AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices

SEI Report
By
These recommendations help organizations that are beginning to build, acquire, and integrate artificial intelligence capabilities into business and mission systems.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

Abstract

This white paper provides an initial set of recommendations to help organizations that are beginning to build, acquire, and integrate artificial intelligence capabilities into business and mission systems.

These AI engineering practices provide a foundation for decision-makers to navigate those changes to develop viable, trusted, and extensible systems. As we build and use these systems, we will define better codified engineering and data management practices as well as tools.

Cite This SEI Report

Software Engineering Institute (2019, September 12). AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices. Retrieved September 12, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/.

@techreport{Citekey_2019,
author={Software Engineering Institute},
title={AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices},
month={Sep},
year={2019},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-12}
}

Software Engineering Institute. "AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, September 12, 2019. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/.

Software Engineering Institute, "AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 12-Sep-2019 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/. [Accessed: 12-Sep-2026].

Software Engineering Institute. "AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 12 Sep. 2019. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Software Engineering Institute. AI Engineering: 11 Foundational Practices. Software Engineering Institute. 2019. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/ai-engineering-11-foundational-practices/