Plate E.1 · Progressive introduction

A route into AI that does not require abandoning engineering judgment.

The visitor chooses the depth. Each stage begins with a familiar discipline and reveals the model layer only where it adds value.

The model matters, but it does not define the system. Select it only after the work, authority, evidence, control and trace are clear.

Technical artifact

E.1
The visitor chooses the depth · the model layer only where it adds value
01 · Work

What is the work?

Define the workflow, failure cost and observable outcome before choosing a model.

02 · Boundary

Where is the boundary?

Decide what the system may read, change, call or publish. Treat external content as untrusted.

03 · Evidence

What evidence is enough?

Write success criteria, representative cases and failure tests before expanding capability.

04 · Control

How is control retained?

Human command must correspond to real pause, review, confirmation and override mechanisms.

05 · Trace

What must remain traceable?

A transcript is insufficient. Preserve identity, evidence, transformations, authorization and result.

06 · Model

Which model fits this station?

Use the model that fits the task, risk, cost and operating conditions. Preserve the option to change it.

07 · Autonomy

What has the evidence earned?

Expand authority only when observed performance supports it. Otherwise narrow the boundary, revise the workflow or replace the model.

Provider-neutral by design. LatentWinds studies and adopts sound practices from leading model providers while retaining a heterogeneous, replaceable model architecture.