We’re in a golden era of personal flow.
AI tools like Cursor, Cody, and Copilot make it easier than ever to enter the zone and stay there. You can go from idea to prototype in hours. It feels amazing, almost like flying.
But here’s the thing we’ve learned firsthand: Just because one person is flying doesn't mean the whole team is moving forward.
At SpecStory, we’ve seen this dynamic play out on our own team.
One person might hit a hot streak with AI and prototype something over a weekend, creating a sense that we’re nearly finished.
But “done” is a mirage.
Because getting code into production means that it meets the bar, that it fits the plan, that works with the rest of our system. And it still takes lots of coordination. And AI doesn’t (yet) handle:
Prioritization
Clear outcomes
Communication between teammates
Roles and responsibilities
Quality and supportability expectations
A couple months ago, we rapidly prototyped our sharing functionality in just a few days.
We were pumped. It worked.
But it still took two more weeks before we could ship it.
Not because of blockers, but because the rest of the team needed time to process the work from their own perspectives: how it impacted design, how it fit into the broader experience, and how it would be supported.
So yeah, personal flow is real. But team flow? That’s the next frontier.
I spoke with dev teams at Assignar and Instacart. They share the same feeling.
AI tools are delivering at the individual level.
But teams are still tripping over the same coordination problems we’ve always had.
We think team flow looks different.
It’s not just everyone in personal flow at the same time. It’s shared clarity. Shared pace. Shared outcomes.
It involves:
Clearly preserving intent so teammates can easily follow your path
Reducing friction between shaping ideas and building solutions
Sharing ownership instead of merely handing off tasks
SpecStory is our bet that team flow is the unlock.
The magic isn’t just in how fast you can move. It’s in how fast we can move together.
🔌 Does this resonate? We’re actively recruiting Design Partners who believe human review matters more than ever. Help shape the next evolution of our product!