20 - Wingman, your AI Control Tower

The Good Stuff, with Pete and Andy - Episode 20: Wingman - your AI Control Tower!Hosts: Pete and Andy (recorded at City Beach, Perth)Episode Overview: Pete unveils his breakthrough AI agent orchestration system "Wingman" - a Mac Mini-based control center for managing multiple AI agents simultaneously. The discussion explores custom-built solutions versus SaaS subscriptions, testing AI models through games, and the emerging paradigm of humans as "control tower operators" for AI systems.Opening & Context Setting (00:00-01:48)Andy returns from illness for episode 20Final beach recording before Pete's mysterious Atlantic adventureReflecting on recent guest episode with BethanneThe Wingman Revolution (01:48-25:00)Pete's Mac Mini experiment: giving AI agents their own dedicated computer environmentEvolution from basic setup to sophisticated web-based control systemMultiple agent orchestration: Goose and Claude Code working in parallel sessionsRemote access from anywhere - phone, laptop, or desktopObsidian integration for documentation and artifact storageAPI endpoints for automated session creation and workflowsAgent-to-Agent Workflows (20:00-25:00)Return-to-base protocol for session completion and handoffsWebhook systems enabling autonomous agent chainsVision of fully automated code review and development cyclesMoving from human-centered to machine-centered processesCustom Tools vs. SaaS Fatigue (25:00-40:00)Economics of $15/month software subscriptions adding upPete's approach: "Fast fashion for software" - build exactly what you needYouTube reel generator case study: custom-built vs. existing solutionsThe open-source developer superpower now accessible via AIManagement-Style AI Interaction (40:00-50:00)Transition from "button-pushing" to strategic oversightUsing specialized agent personalities (Grug Brain Developer for code reviews)Dueling agents: building features in parallel and choosing the bestPlanning and auditing as core human value-addGaming as AI Benchmarks (50:00-01:09:00)Settlers of Catan as model testing environmentGame mechanics as proxy for enterprise negotiation and resource managementTabletop wargaming automation conceptsTesting strategic thinking, negotiation, and long-term planning capabilitiesThe Control Tower Paradigm (01:09:00-01:13:00)Humans as air traffic controllers for AI agent fleetsMultiplayer mode implications for teamsTerminology evolution: logbooks, flight plans, control towersDedicated AI Environments: Running agents on isolated hardware eliminates privacy concerns while providing full system access and persistent operation.Agent Orchestration Architecture: The future involves managing 1-100 agents simultaneously across different projects and functions, requiring sophisticated coordination systems.Custom vs. Commercial Software: AI development capabilities are shifting the economics from subscription services to custom-built solutions tailored to specific workflows.Human Role Evolution: The transition from direct execution to strategic oversight and agent management represents a fundamental shift in how knowledge work gets done."I don't have a good way of explaining how just fucking nice this is" - Pete on Wingman's seamless operation"The data is in the computer. You were in the computer. Talk to it." - Pete on the future of AI interaction"It's the same way that junior developers fuck stuff up... we just need to use the same processes" - Pete on managing AI agents"Fast fashion for software" - Andy's description of rapid custom tool developmentLooking Ahead: Pete's system represents a glimpse into the future of human-AI collaboration, where individuals can operate sophisticated agent networks from anywhere, fundamentally changing the nature of knowledge work and business operations.