# How long does AI implementation take?

Source: https://getstartedwithai.net/articles/how-long-does-ai-implementation-take
Site: Get Started With AI
Tagline: Build AI automations that actually run your business.
Audience: solo professionals, freelancers, consultants and AI implementers in training
Contact: hello@getstartedwithai.co.uk

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# How long does AI implementation take?

AI implementation in 2026 takes 1 to 3 weeks for a single workflow and 6 to 12 weeks for a full sprint covering 3 to 5 workflows. The work is faster than most people expect because the tools have matured. The bottleneck is operations, not code.

## Realistic timelines by scope

- Audit only: 5 to 10 working days from kickoff to delivered report.
- Single build (one workflow end to end): 2 to 3 weeks.
- Implementation sprint (3 to 5 workflows): 6 to 8 weeks.
- Embedded fractional engagement: 90 days minimum to see compound effect.

## What makes implementation slow

- No documented process for the workflow before kickoff.
- No named owner inside the client team.
- Approval cycles that take more than 48 hours.
- Trying to build everything at once instead of phasing.

## What makes it fast

- Process documented in advance.
- A named owner with decision authority.
- WIRE Method audit done before the build starts.
- Phasing into 1-week chunks.

## How to plan around it

Block your first build to land within 3 weeks of the kickoff. The first working build is what makes everything else easier; without it, the project drifts. The first build is the credibility moment for the whole engagement.

## Build your first AI system live with Richard

A 60-minute live build with Richard Batt. Bring one repeatable task. Leave with a mapped automation, success metrics and a deploy plan you can test the next morning. Free seat, no upsell.

### Live build session

The next live session covers the WIRE Method end to end on a real audience build.

[Join the next session](/webinar)

## Questions people ask before they start

### Do I need to code?

No. Most builds run on ChatGPT, Claude, Zapier, Make, Notion or Canva. Code tools are only used when they are the fastest route to a working outcome.

### How much time does each build take?

Most starter builds ship in 30 to 90 minutes. Each one states the outcome, the time to ship, the tool cost and the running system you should have when you finish.

### Is this for beginners or consultants?

Both. The site is calibrated for solo professionals who want the working system for themselves first, then repackage the same build as paid client work.

### Where should I start?

Start with the free Starter Kit, then ship the first ChatGPT project and the first Zapier flow. That gives you one assistant and one live automation by the end of the week.