How to scope an AI agent proof of concept
A proof of concept should answer one operational question, define its boundaries, and leave a clear decision for what happens next.
Bart LuderaCEO
A proof of concept is a decision tool
An AI proof of concept should answer a specific operational question. Can the system classify an inbound request accurately enough to help the team? Can it retrieve a documented answer with the right source attached? Can it route an exception to the right person without losing context?
If the question is vague, the proof will be vague too. A useful PoC gives a team evidence for the next decision: expand the system, change the workflow, collect better data, or stop.
Start with the workflow
Map the work before choosing a model or framework. Identify the trigger, the information the system may use, the action it can take, the decisions that still need a person, and the failure that matters most. This keeps the first build narrow enough to inspect.
Define the boundary
The PoC needs a real but bounded operating environment. It should use representative inputs, integrate with only the systems required to test the question, and record what happened. A chat demo without those constraints rarely tells a team whether the workflow is viable.
Decide how quality will be checked
Set the pass criteria before implementation. That may include source-grounded answers, correct routing, a safe escalation path, or an operator review of a sample of outputs. The goal is not a perfect system. It is a result that makes the next decision less speculative.
Plan the route to production
A PoC does not need every production concern solved on day one, but it should expose what production will require: integration ownership, access controls, monitoring, expected failure modes, and who will operate the system. Those questions belong in the scope, not in a surprise after a successful demo.
Work with Harnessloop
Bring one workflow and the evidence you already have. We can assess whether it is suitable for a proof of concept, map the first build, and define the decision you should be able to make from it.