Agent Pilots
Pilot complex AI before you pretend it is infrastructure.
Multi-step agents, retrieval systems and deeper integrations can create value, but they introduce more failure modes than a simple workflow.
The pilot-first model
Start with a narrow use case, a defined input set and an explicit success criterion. Validate accuracy, operational usefulness and human hand-off before expanding scope.
A useful pilot should answer four questions
- Does the workflow solve a real operating problem?
- Can the system retrieve or reason over the right information consistently?
- Where does human approval remain necessary?
- What would production hardening require?
Why the distinction matters
A working prototype is evidence of capability, not proof of enterprise reliability. Treating the two as the same creates unnecessary client and reputational risk.
Capability status: complex AI agents, RAG and deeper integrations are described in the source material as prototypes. The responsible commercial framing is discovery plus pilot, followed by a separate production decision.