System design · 2026-09-02
Start with the work, not the model
A practical way to choose the first AI workflow worth building.
Most AI projects begin one layer too late. Someone finds a model, a tool, or a clever demo and then searches for somewhere to put it.
Start with work that already happens. Look for a task with a recognizable beginning, a useful end, and enough repetition that a better path would matter.
Write down the real sequence
Capture who starts the work, what they need, what decisions they make, where information comes from, and what counts as finished. The awkward parts are valuable. They show you where judgment and review belong.
Keep the first loop small
Choose one outcome you can review without guessing. A small working loop teaches more than a large speculative architecture.
Earn the automation
Only automate a step after you understand its failure modes. Speed is useful after the work is trustworthy.