AI Work Patterns explores how AI is transforming work systems through emerging patterns and experimentation, emphasizing an open approach to understanding changes in daily work, coordination, and strategic choices.
AI is changing how we design and use work systems. How exactly? We're still figuring that out. Everyone is.
Some smart consultants are already building maturity frameworks and governance models on top of this. We get it - the urge to structure is strong. But we don't think we're there yet. Right now, we learn more by keeping the space open: experimenting with what's possible, running into limitations, and looking at real examples to understand what's actually happening.
Some of the patterns here are already established among pioneers. Some are speculative. Some might turn out to be dead ends. 12 emerging patterns, mapped to Flight Levels: from how daily work actually changes (FL1), through coordination challenges (FL2), up to strategic choices (FL3).
Playful, evidence-based where evidence exists, honest about what's still speculation. A 2025/2026 experiment in the open.
Agent Boss explores the shift in work dynamics where every knowledge worker manages AI agents, emphasizing the importance of delegation and management skills over technical proficiency.
Agent Sprawl refers to the uncontrolled proliferation of AI agents in organizations without governance, leading to operational chaos and coordination issues.
Guardian Agents are AI systems that monitor, review, and protect other AI agents to prevent errors and unauthorized actions in multi-agent environments.
"Humans Above the Loop" discusses three oversight levels for AI work (HITL, HOTL, HATL) emphasizing clear direction and autonomy for better results.
The jagged frontier illustrates the unpredictable boundaries of AI capabilities, where it excels at complex tasks but often fails at simpler ones, necessitating careful mapping and understanding of its strengths and weaknesses.
The concept of a "One-Person Unicorn" explores how a single founder can leverage AI agents to achieve billion-dollar valuations, transforming organizational dynamics and efficiency.