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 20
- Final beach recording before Pete's mysterious Atlantic adventure
- Reflecting on recent guest episode with Bethanne
The Wingman Revolution (01:48-25:00)
- Pete's Mac Mini experiment: giving AI agents their own dedicated computer environment
- Evolution from basic setup to sophisticated web-based control system
- Multiple agent orchestration: Goose and Claude Code working in parallel sessions
- Remote access from anywhere - phone, laptop, or desktop
- Obsidian integration for documentation and artifact storage
- API endpoints for automated session creation and workflows
Agent-to-Agent Workflows (20:00-25:00)
- Return-to-base protocol for session completion and handoffs
- Webhook systems enabling autonomous agent chains
- Vision of fully automated code review and development cycles
- Moving from human-centered to machine-centered processes
Custom Tools vs. SaaS Fatigue (25:00-40:00)
- Economics of $15/month software subscriptions adding up
- Pete's approach: "Fast fashion for software" - build exactly what you need
- YouTube reel generator case study: custom-built vs. existing solutions
- The open-source developer superpower now accessible via AI
Management-Style AI Interaction (40:00-50:00)
- Transition from "button-pushing" to strategic oversight
- Using specialized agent personalities (Grug Brain Developer for code reviews)
- Dueling agents: building features in parallel and choosing the best
- Planning and auditing as core human value-add
Gaming as AI Benchmarks (50:00-01:09:00)
- Settlers of Catan as model testing environment
- Game mechanics as proxy for enterprise negotiation and resource management
- Tabletop wargaming automation concepts
- Testing strategic thinking, negotiation, and long-term planning capabilities
The Control Tower Paradigm (01:09:00-01:13:00)
- Humans as air traffic controllers for AI agent fleets
- Multiplayer mode implications for teams
- Terminology evolution: logbooks, flight plans, control towers
Dedicated 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 development
Looking 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.
