AI adoption
The learning system beats the agentic swarm
Since the early days of AI, I have been seduced by the idea of a single, deep collaborator. Not just an assistant, but an engaged collaborator.
Since the early days of AI, I have been seduced by the idea of a single, deep collaborator. Not just an assistant, but an engaged collaborator.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of an agentic swarm, working tirelessly through the night while I sleep. I’ve built and re-built variations of that process and dark factories multiple times. If I had a pound for every AI Harness iteration I’d created… I’d have a tenner£10 or $13 .
Where swarms break
But so far I’ve found that approach is lacking. Systems break down on brittle rules - deep complexity creeps in over time. It shouldn’t be surprising - common sense is almost impossible to codify. Setting up an agent swarm means relinquishing control.
A simple learning system
a learning system is simple, and simple is what works. Save info, check info: the whole mechanismIn contrast, creating a learning system is beautifully simple. Save info > Check info. Deeper, long-term context can be as simple as a markdown file. Critically, the value compounds over time as the learning deepens.
Codifying a learning system is easy - but incredibly powerful. It can become a self-improving systemit learns & evolves from its own use through its own learning.
Providing a system with the ability to develop and evolve is much more powerful than providing features. The system moulds itself around the needs of each individual user - it literally becomes specifically created for them.
Providing a system with the ability to develop and evolve is much more powerful than providing features.
Start with a conversation
Beyond code generation, people are often advised to start with automations and daily updates. I always think this is poor adviceI feel the best way to start is by talking to it as if it were a human. Start talking to an agent, let it build a picture and understanding of you and how you work. Collaborate on how it could best help you build a system around you.
AI is the most extraordinary pattern matching machine in history. Let it see the patterns you can’t, let it see past your blind spots and biasesit’ll see what you can’t (or won’t). Build your goals with AI and let it make sense of your habits. Over time, it can help you build new habits.
For me, my agentic collaborator knows I can focus too heavily on process - I am drawn to the abstract, processes, strategy, architecture and planning. I’ve got £10 to prove it.
Hence this post. I’m on a fascinating journey with AI and I want to share it.