Beyond RAG: Building Production-Grade AI Coworkers for the Enterprise (feat. Karl Simon)

There is a meaningful difference between pasting a problem into ChatGPT and deploying an AI system that autonomously orchestrates multi-step workflows across a regulated enterprise. Karl has spent the last several years working in that gap — building what he calls “AI coworkers” for wealth management firms and manufacturers. This article unpacks the architectural decisions, engineering philosophy, and organizational implications behind that work.