Why subscribe?
The Rest of the System is my human authored field notes on the pieces around the model that make it work. These pieces include things like human judgement, technology / product ownership, GRC, maintenance, talent, etc. that together decide whether AI creates value for an organization, or a demo that collects dust as another failed statistic. Specifically, this is for the folks who must own the results, not just the initial message to the Street.
I’m Tom Sullivan, and I’m thrilled that you’re here. I’ve spent the last decade+ implementing systems (mostly inside regulated businesses). More recently, I am working with leaders to plan, design, build, deploy, and retire real solutions that create meaningful economic impact. So, through this publication, I will share what I am building, seeing, reading, and what I’m excited about, and I promise to share real examples when I have them.
Three recurring lenses will organize the publication (likely more to follow):
Field Notes: translation from the physical or business process into software.
Shaped Like Success: systems that look green while quietly failing (particularly insidious with AI / nondeterministic systems).
After the Demo: adoption, ownership, maintenance, and the operating life of a build.
Complete essays, models, and figures will always live at tomsullivan.dev, but each letter will stand on its own.
Request: Please drop me a line and tell me what part of the AI implementation / management process your organization is still figuring out how to build and / or own. I read every reply, and the answers steer what I investigate next.
