After you describe your decision, MAIA scans the available data to assess what it has to work with and what's missing. If there are gaps, you'll see a gap resolution step where you decide how to handle each one.
What MAIA Looks For
MAIA checks whether the data available — from your description, uploaded documents, and connected sources — covers the categories needed for a thorough analysis of your specific decision. Categories include things like financial data, competitive landscape, regulatory context, organizational structure, and market conditions.
Each category gets a coverage rating: Strong (well-covered by your data), Partial (some data but incomplete), or Material Gap (critical data missing that would significantly affect the analysis).
What Benchmarks Are
When you don't have real data for a gap, MAIA can use benchmark data — industry-standard proxy values drawn from governed sources (regulatory filings, public company data, recognized industry associations). For example, if you haven't provided your company's revenue growth rate, MAIA might offer "SaaS industry median growth rate of 22% (Bessemer, 2025)" as a proxy.
Benchmarks are never hidden. Every conclusion in the rehearsal that relies on benchmark data is flagged throughout the pipeline — in the dependency map, disruption analysis, countermeasures, and the final Decision Brief. You always know what's estimated versus what came from your actual data.
The Two-Button Cards
For each material gap, you'll see a card with two options:
"Accept Benchmark" — MAIA uses the named proxy assumption and proceeds. The benchmark source is cited. All downstream analysis based on this benchmark is flagged.
"I Have This Data" — A text field opens where you type the real data. What you provide replaces the benchmark. You can also use the 📎 paperclip button to upload documents that cover the gap.
The pipeline holds until every material gap has been resolved — either with a benchmark or with your data. You won't proceed with unknown holes in the foundation.
Research Permission
After gap resolution, MAIA may ask for permission to conduct governed external research to fill remaining gaps. This is a separate step — MAIA will tell you exactly what it plans to research and ask for a clear Yes or No. If you approve, each research finding is then presented individually for your approval before it enters the analysis. See the full rehearsal walkthrough for details on the evidence approval step.