“If you're not thinking about an agent being a part of every conversation, something’s wrong with you.” – Mark Richards

Season 3 of SPCs Unleashed opens with a subtle shift. While the podcast continues to serve the SAFe community, the crew is broadening the conversation to explore how AI is disrupting agile practices. In this kickoff, hosts Mark Richards, Niko Kaintantzis, Ali Hajou, and Stephan Neck take on a provocative question: what happens to user stories in a world of AI-generated prototypes, specs, and conversations?

The debate highlights tension between tradition and transformation. User stories have long anchored agile communication, but the panel asks if they still serve their purpose when AI can generate quality outputs faster than humans. Their conclusion: the form may change, but the intent — empathy, alignment, and feedback — remains essential.

1. AI exposes weaknesses. Most backlogs already contain poor-quality “stories” that are tasks in disguise. AI could multiply the problem if used lazily, but also raise the bar by forcing clarity.

2. Feedback speed is the game-changer. Tools like Replit, Lovable, and GPT-5 enable instant prototyping, turning vague ideas into testable experiments in hours.

3. From stories to executable briefs. Stephan notes prompts may become agile’s new “H1 tag”: precise instructions that orchestrate human–AI swarms.

4. Context and craftsmanship still matter. AI cannot intuit the problem space. Human product thinking — empathy, vision, and long-term orientation — remains vital.

5. User stories may fade, intent will not. Mark sees classic stories as obsolete, but clear communication and shared focus endure.

This episode signals a turning point: SPCs Unleashed is no longer just about scaling frameworks — it’s about confronting how AI reshapes agile fundamentals. The verdict? User stories may not survive intact, but the practices of fast feedback, empathy, and shared understanding are more important than ever. Coaches and leaders must now help teams integrate AI as a collaborator, not a crutch.