The Greater Cincinnati AI Readiness Index.

How are organizations across Greater Cincinnati preparing to use AI? RUDI is developing a regional research initiative to examine that question and identify where leaders and institutions can help.

Current status

Research design and partnership development.

No findings have been published yet. RUDI is inviting regional organizations and partners to help shape the first edition.

Discuss research participation Explore the regional hub →

The research question

How ready are Greater Cincinnati organizations for AI?

The proposed study would examine how organizations choose AI projects, prepare employees, manage data and tools, and oversee the work. These six areas would help identify what supports adoption and where organizations need help.

Strategy and decisions: How do leaders understand current AI use, choose priorities, allocate investment, and assign responsibility?
Capability and adoption: What are employees using, where do learning needs differ by role, and what helps people keep practicing?
Workflows and value: Where is AI changing tasks and processes, which uses create value, and where is human judgment essential?
Technology and data: How do tools, access permissions, information sources, integrations, and technical constraints shape use?
Governance and responsible use: How do organizations handle policies, privacy, verification, oversight, vendor risk, accountability, and incidents?
Regional conditions: Which shared resources, partnerships, talent, research, and programs could help organizations prepare?

Proposed evidence model

Surveys, interviews, and readiness assessments.

The research design proposes combining a broad organizational survey with executive interviews and a smaller set of detailed assessments.

Proposed sources of evidence for the first edition
Method	What it would examine
Organizational survey	Current AI activity, workforce capability, governance, adoption, and leadership priorities across regional organizations.
Executive interviews	Decisions, barriers, use cases, organizational dynamics, and emerging needs in leaders’ own accounts.
Readiness assessments	A smaller set of detailed organizational assessments and engagement evidence to test and enrich the regional patterns.

Intended outputs

Reports and a regional discussion.

These are planned outputs. The first edition is still in development.

Annual report: An account of regional readiness, strengths, gaps, and priority actions.
Executive brief: A concise view of the findings and priorities for organizational leaders.
Sector views: Analysis of differences across sectors or organization types, where sample size and evidence support it.
Regional convening: A working conversation about the findings and possible partnerships, programs, and next steps.

Ways to participate

Help shape the first edition.

Start a conversation with RUDI about the role your organization could play.

Employers: Discuss contributing survey data, nominating an executive for an interview, or exploring a readiness assessment.
Networks and institutions: Explore how associations, chambers, industry groups, universities, and public institutions could help reach regional organizations.
Funders and sponsors: Discuss supporting participation, analysis, convening, or access for mission-driven organizations.

Tell RUDI whether you are interested in participating, partnering, sponsoring, contributing expertise, or receiving research updates.

Discuss research participation

Opens the conversation form with Greater Cincinnati research / partnership selected.