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Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize critical care medicine by enhancing patient care, improving resource allocation and reducing clinician workload. Despite this promise, many AI applications remain confined to scientific research rather than being integrated into everyday clinical practice. This manuscript aims to help intensivists prepare themselves and their intensive care units (ICUs) for AI implementation. It provides a comprehensive yet practical roadmap, detailing AI methods, applications, responsible AI principles, common roadblocks and implementation strategies. We propose a three-tiered risk-based approach to AI implementation, starting with low-risk low-complexity administrative AI, progressing to logistical AI, and finally integrating medical AI as clinical decision support systems. This ensures a gradual build-up of AI skills, technical AI readiness of the ICU, incremental value demonstration and alignment with evolving regulatory standards. For each AI project, responsible AI principles should be incorporated and adequately addressed throughout the entire AI lifecycle, from development to validation to implementation and scaling. Common roadblocks for AI implementation including technical issues (such as data quality and interoperability issues), organizational challenges (such as lack of a clear vision and strategy), and clinical concerns (such as limited AI literacy among staff), should be addressed proactively. By following this roadmap, ICUs can achieve sustainable AI integration, ultimately improving patient outcomes and clinician experience. The future of critical care lies in the responsible and strategic adoption of AI, with intensivists playing a central role in shaping its implementation. [Display omitted] •A three-tiered, risk-based approach is advised for successful AI implementation in ICUs.•Responsible AI principles should be integrated throughout the entire AI lifecycle, from development to validation to implementation and scaling.•Common roadblocks to AI implementation include technical, organizational, and clinical challenges.•A practical roadmap for AI readiness in ICUs includes defining strategic vision, starting with low-risk high-value applications, focusing on foundational readiness, selecting the appropriate use case aligned with readiness level and goals, establishing monitoring and governance systems and incorporating lessons learned from early adopters.