# 3.9 Automation & AI Requirements

## Core Goals
- Generate AI-driven summaries of RFQs to assist stakeholders with quick reviews.
- Recommend vendors automatically using historical performance, capability matching, and compliance status.
- Produce AI-based cost estimations and trend analyses for budget planning.
- Issue smart alerts for expiring quotes, contracts, or risk indicators.

## Functional Expectations
- Summaries should highlight key requirements, deadlines, and deviations in natural language.
- Recommendation engines must account for vendor ratings, certifications, and delivery performance.
- Cost analytics should leverage historical pricing data to forecast ranges and detect anomalies.
- Alerts need configurable thresholds and delivery channels (email, in-app, SMS).

## Implementation Notes
- Integrate with approved AI services respecting data privacy and residency requirements.
- Retain explainability artifacts for AI-assisted decisions to satisfy audit needs.
- Align alerting with the notification queue service to avoid duplicate messages and support escalation.