Agent architecture map

Northwind Mutual (illustrative): First-notice-of-loss through settlement for motor claims

One use case, 3 ways it could come to life. Each is a complete architecture, not a sketch. They differ in where commit authority sits and how much a person is asked to carry, which is the choice that actually matters.

Assistive

Agents gather and recommend. Every settlement is paid by a licensed adjuster.

Buys: A single reversible failure mode and the shortest path to production.

Gives up: Throughput. The adjuster headcount is the ceiling on the whole process.

Supervised

Agents settle inside a numeric limit. Anything above it waits for an adjuster.

Buys: Most of the throughput, while keeping a person on every consequential claim.

Gives up: A real staffing commitment to watching the queue, which is routinely promised and not funded.

Bounded autonomy

Agents settle a narrow, well-tested band end to end. Everything outside it escalates.

Buys: Speed on the routine majority, with a human cost that scales with exceptions rather than volume.

Gives up: The band has to be defined precisely and evaluated continuously, which is where this variant usually dies.

Cheek LLC · Agent architecture map · v1