One of the most frequent challenges we hear from our field team and customers is this: “How do we identify the right use cases for agents?” It’s a fair question, and it’s one that has taken center stage as businesses seek to harness the potential of AI. To me and my product trio, the answer is both simple and profound: we need the freedom—and the encouragement—to play at work. That’s where creativity, trust, and delight truly come to life.
A Real-World Example: Detecting Fraudulent Social Security Cards
Let me share a recent experience that highlights this principle in action. During a customer call with a bank, my lead engineer and I were showcasing our Agent Creator’s new multimodal capabilities. For those unfamiliar, multimodal AI can process and integrate different types of data—like text, images, and audio—simultaneously. It’s a game-changer for tackling complex, real-world challenges.
As we wrapped up our demos, the customer began exploring how these capabilities could address their specific needs. One fascinating idea emerged: using AI to identify fraudulent Social Security cards.
Without hesitation, my lead engineer seized the opportunity to experiment. Within minutes, we were pulling images of Social Security cards from Google and crafting a simple prompt to see what the AI could do. The result? A quick proof of concept that analyzed both the text and visual elements (like fonts and holograms) of the cards to identify inconsistencies. It wasn’t polished, and it wasn’t perfect—but it was real.
Why Play Matters
That experience underscored an important truth: some of the best outcomes arise not from having all the answers but from exploring possibilities together. Too often, we get fixated on perfection—on being the “experts” in the room. But in my experience, the most productive customer calls are those where we let curiosity take the lead.
When you’re willing to play, you create an environment where:
- Creativity Thrives: You’re free to explore unconventional ideas without fear of failure.
- Trust is Built: Customers appreciate authenticity and collaboration more than pre-packaged solutions.
- Innovation Happens: The process of live experimentation often reveals insights you might never uncover otherwise.
Encouraging Play in Your Work
In this fast-moving world of AI, encouraging a mindset of play isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Here are a few ways to foster this in your own teams and projects:
- Create a Safe Space: Let your team know it’s okay to experiment and make mistakes.
- Engage Your Customers: Treat customer calls as opportunities for collaboration, not just presentations.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Even an imperfect proof of concept can spark excitement and build momentum.
What’s Your Experience?
As we continue to push the boundaries of AI, I’ve found that curiosity and collaboration often yield the most rewarding results. What’s one time you let experimentation lead the way in your work? How did it impact the outcome?
I’d love to hear your stories and insights as we navigate this exciting era of AI together.
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