The real AI revolution isn't about the technology. It's about who you become when you stop fighting it and start forging yourself in its fire.
AI First Manifesto
Beyond vibe coding to systematic AI-first product development philosophy
61 minutes total reading
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Most leaders add AI tools to human workflows. The breakthrough is designing collaboration architecture where human judgment and AI capability compound each other from the ground up.
Scaling AI First isn't 'more tools for more teams.' It's mode discipline, runnable playbooks, and iteration systems that make capability compound across functions.
Culture doesn't just eat strategy for breakfast. Culture will devour your AI transformation, shit out the bones, and ask for seconds.
Most leaders want AI transformation results without undergoing the leadership metamorphosis it requires. Here's what AI-first leadership actually demands.
Working with organizations on AI adoption feels like deja vu. The same resistance patterns I saw during the waterfall-to-agile transformation. What made agile successful wasn't better processes, it was establishing clear values. AI transformation needs the same thing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'vibe coding' and why is it problematic?
Vibe coding is the random, feel-good experimentation with AI tools that masquerades as transformation but delivers chaos. Teams use AI tools when the mood strikes without systematic methodology, treating AI as an add-on rather than a foundation. This leads to inconsistent results, technical debt, and missed transformation opportunities.
How is AI First different from just using AI tools?
AI First is a philosophical transformation that reimagines the entire product development lifecycle around human-AI collaboration. Instead of bolting AI tools onto existing workflows, AI First teams systematically optimize every stage of development for hybrid intelligence, creating exponential improvements rather than incremental gains.
What does techne mean in the context of AI development?
Techne is the ancient Greek concept of craft or skill that encompasses both knowledge and practical application. In AI development, it means evolving your entire approach to the craft, not just acquiring new tools. True techne involves reimagining what it means to build products when human creativity and AI capability can compound each other.
What is the competitive advantage of AI First teams?
AI First teams achieve 200-500% performance improvements through systematic transformation, not just 10-20% gains from random tool adoption. More importantly, they expand capability—building products with AI-native experiences and self-optimizing systems that were previously impossible for human-only teams to conceive or execute.
How do technical leaders guide AI First transformation?
Technical leaders must become transformation architects, designing organizational structures, incentive systems, and cultural norms that support AI First development. This requires guiding teams through the fundamental change of mind (metanoia) needed to embrace human-AI collaboration and develop new forms of practical wisdom (phronesis) for hybrid intelligence environments.
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