The model is the easy part. The plumbing is what kills you.
A governance-first field manual for shipping agentic AI into regulated production — the 6 Pipes, the implementation lifecycle, and four real regulated deployments, one per non-negotiable. No magic, just the plumbing the model doesn't give you.
The manuscript, chapter by chapter.
Open with the failure modes, then the framework that fixes them — every pipe anchored to a real regulated deployment. Tap any chapter to read it in your browser.
The model is the easy part. Pilots die at the governance layer, not the model layer — and the organizations that succeed aren't the ones with the best models, but the best plumbing.
Why enterprise AI fails — the real cost of failure, the three reasons it keeps happening, and the 2026 imperative now carrying €35M penalties.
Chasing models instead of solving problems. The gap between lab and production, and how to break free of the trap.
The accuracy illusion, what "need" really means, the regulatory landscape, and compliance as a competitive moat.
The plumbing metaphor, and the six enforcement layers named: four non-negotiables, plus two that make a governed agent survive a real enterprise.
Why ~70% of pilots die before production, ADRs as proof of rigor, the six pipes wired into the runtime, and the compliance mapping.
A 30-day sprint from regulatory mapping to a production-ready, governed deployment — three phases and the sign-off checklist.
Four real regulated deployments — one per non-negotiable — plus the failure patterns and the Governance-First Manifesto.
Near-, medium- and long-term horizons — and the mantra that stays constant: infrastructure before intelligence.
Six pipes, four non-negotiable, each anchored to a real deployment. Build the kill switch, the ledger, the gate and the keyring first.
Useful before it’s finished. The moment a 4-page extract works, the book is already working.
Compliance-minded operators
- CDOs and CAOs deploying agents under banking, insurance, pharma or energy regulators
- Architects who own the production system, not the pitch deck
- Boards that need a governance posture they can put their name to
No hype, no “future of AI.” Evidence over adjectives.
The book and the layer
aiplumber.dev is the consultancy and the method. Kleiber is the open-source layer that enforces the four pillars in your agent runtime — the installable proof that the method holds.
Explore Kleiber & resources →Regulatory currency: EU AI Act high-risk (Annex III) obligations apply from 2 August 2026 (operative date; subject to pending Digital Omnibus revisions — verify current status before relying on it).