Designing AI Harnesses: Principles and Practice

This article defines an "AI harness" as the software engineering framework—comprising model management, data integration, and verification layers—that wraps around a model to execute specific tasks. The author argues that developers should design these harnesses based on desired outcomes rather than model-first approaches, choosing between building custom or composing existing tools to balance speed and control. Ultimately, the text emphasizes that rigorous evaluation and testing are essential to managing the non-deterministic nature of AI workflows and ensuring reliable performance.