We Own the Critical Path

The critical path—the sequence of decisions and actions that determine project success—must remain firmly in human hands. Planning, validation, and review are responsibilities we will never delegate to AI. These are the moments where context, judgment, and accountability matter most, and where human expertise is irreplaceable.

Planning is strategic. It requires understanding business goals, technical constraints, user needs, and team capabilities. AI can inform planning with data and recommendations, but it cannot synthesize these factors into a coherent vision. That synthesis is our job.

Validation is critical. AI generates solutions, but humans must verify that those solutions are correct, secure, and aligned with requirements. This step cannot be automated away—it is the checkpoint where we ensure quality and catch errors before they propagate.

Review is collaborative. It's where teams share knowledge, challenge assumptions, and refine work. AI can assist by summarizing changes or highlighting issues, but the conversation, the debate, and the decision-making are inherently human.

Execution, however, is where AI shines. Once the plan is set, once the requirements are clear, AI can generate code, write documentation, create tests, and handle routine tasks with speed and consistency. We delegate execution; we own the critical path. This division of labor is the key to productive AI integration.