GenAI without architecture is squirrels reorganizing your filing cabinets
GenAI agents in a workflow without proper architecture, sternly-worded prompts masquerading as security, is like hiring squirrels to reorganize your filing cabinets. Looks productive, doesn't end pretty. Just ask McKinsey. 😏
Week 2 of Codality and we already have 3 projects that include responsibly embedding GenAI agents into deterministic workflows. Mark my words: responsible implementation will become the focus as vibe-coded calamities in the news shake business owners and investors out of their hype-lord-driven reverie.
The fact of the matter is that implementing AI will be the same as any software development project, kicking off with thoughtful business analysis to determine strategy and where non-deterministic processes can add value. Then architecting the tactics to properly orchestrate your AI agents, all couched in deterministic logic with strict security controls. This is how you avoid becoming another didactic tale.
The latest in our ongoing "What Else Can McKinsey F Up with AI" series includes 728,000 files inadvertently exposed, and that's just one F up (link in comments). This just goes to show what happens when people without software development expertise try to architect enterprise systems. Unbounded access and no guardrails: the squirrel scenario digitally at scale.
The news of the demise of my profession has been greatly exaggerated. 😁
"Everything is messed up, but don't worry, it's because we're really clever" probably won't convince too many people for too long. So what's your plan for balancing the benefits of GenAI with the inherent risks?
Comment here or message me if you want to talk it through.
#ResponsibleAI #AIForBusiness #GenAI #Technology
Jessie Grenfell
Jessie has spent 20+ years architecting and delivering software for organizations where complexity is the norm — financial services, insurance, nonprofits, and regulated industries where getting it wrong isn't an option. She specializes in the hard problems: unique operational workflows, cross-system integrations, and the kind of compliance requirements (HIPAA, CCPA, SOC 2) that most developers treat as someone else's job.
At Codality, she leads every principal engagement from discovery through delivery — because she's seen what happens when that thread gets cut.