Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure

01 December 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

roadrunner-and-coyote-and-ai-by-scott-m-graffius---lwres

Introduction

Looking at important topics, such as AI, through different lenses can reveal insights that other analyses might miss. Fiction — dystopian sci fi, classic cartoons, or otherwise — frequently provides imaginative scenarios that reveal how tools, systems, and technology can succeed or fail. These stories highlight advantages and pitfalls potentially applicable to the real world. In a previous article, Scott M. Graffius explored how unhinged AI in fiction exposes dangers such as misaligned objectives, unchecked autonomy, and amplified human flaws (the bibliography provides details on that article and more). While set in imaginary worlds, these stories offer real-world lessons. These examples are just a few among many that provide a cautionary lens.

The Looney Tunes Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons offer an especially effective way to explore complex ideas. Their broad familiarity, striking visuals, and humorous exaggeration of misaligned goals and tool misuse turn otherwise abstract concepts into memorable lessons. Studying these animated misadventures reveals practical insights for human–AI collaboration, system design, and risk management.

Explaining the title to this article, here’s why a cartoon coyote deserves the title “patron saint of AI failure.” If over-engineered tools that fail in grand fashion had a hall of fame, Wile E. Coyote would be its eternal inductee and undisputed grand marshal for his (mis)use of ACME gadgets, turning every entry into a memorable disaster.

While exaggerated for comedy, Wile E. Coyote’s failures are surprisingly instructive. His endless parade of exploding rockets, collapsing catapults, and perfectly mistimed anvils is the funniest, most unforgettable crash course in misalignment, overconfidence, and unintended consequences ever drawn. In other words, he’s the perfect mascot for everything that can go wrong when humans hand ambitious goals to powerful tools and then walk away. Fortunately, he’s also the perfect teacher for those willing to laugh and learn.

The cartoons provide surprisingly rich lessons for thinking about AI—especially in the context of human-AI teams and tool deployment. Six key lessons follow.

1. AI (or tools) are only as effective as their design

Wile E. Coyote constantly relies on gadgets from ACME—traps, rockets, catapults, and more—to catch the Roadrunner. Almost every time, the gadgets backfire.

Lesson: AI is a tool, not magic. Poorly designed algorithms or misapplied technology can cause failures, unintended consequences, or even harm. This mirrors the importance of careful AI system design, testing, and validation before deployment.

2. Misaligned objectives are dangerous

Coyote’s goal is to catch the Roadrunner, but the gadgets’ “objectives” (as defined by ACME manuals) or the laws of physics are misaligned with that goal.

Lesson: AI systems perform exactly what they are told to do, not what we intend. Misalignment between human goals and AI objectives can produce disastrous or comically counterproductive outcomes. Think “objective function” in AI terms.

3. Iteration and learning have limits

The Coyote repeats failed strategies endlessly, sometimes adapting slightly, but rarely learning optimally from past mistakes.

Lesson: AI systems, like humans, need feedback loops and learning mechanisms to improve. Blind repetition without evaluation (or without updating the model based on outcomes) can perpetuate failure.

4. Risk and unintended consequences

Each ACME device is risky. Many explode, collapse, or harm Coyote instead of the intended target.

Lesson: AI deployment carries inherent risk. Tools may fail in unexpected ways, especially when operating in complex, real-world environments. Testing, simulation, and fail-safes are critical.

5. Overreliance on tools

Coyote relies almost exclusively on external gadgets rather than on strategy, instinct, or adaptation.

Lesson: Overdependence on AI or automation can reduce critical human judgment. Human oversight, creativity, and contextual understanding remain essential.

6. Creativity and innovation are key—but insufficient alone

Coyote is incredibly inventive—often devising elaborate schemes in seconds—yet his creativity is wasted because he misjudges physics, timing, or strategy.

Lesson: In human-AI teams, combining creativity (human or AI-generated ideas) with constraints, proper testing, and risk assessment is crucial. Innovation without grounding in reality can backfire.

The Big Picture

The cartoons offer a humorous but meaningful reflection on AI development. They exaggerate the risks of tool misalignment, overreliance, and unintended consequences—all of which are key considerations for anyone working with AI. They are reminders that AI systems are not a panacea, even if they seem ingenious. Without careful alignment, testing, and feedback, expect a familiar ending: “the Roadrunner” zipping away while the big plan collapses in comic fashion.

Conclusion

While Wile E. Coyote’s misadventures are entertaining, yet they highlight serious principles. In the real world, AI systems—like ACME gadgets—can be powerful tools. However, they are only as effective as their design, alignment, and oversight. Human-AI teams thrive when they navigate “exotic team dynamics” well and effectively combine human judgment, creativity, and ethical reasoning with AI’s speed, analytical power, and scalability. These teams are far more likely to outperform those that rely blindly on automation. By learning from even the most exaggerated fictional examples, organizations are more equipped to anticipate risks, avoid common pitfalls, and deploy AI responsibly. So no one ends up flattened against a painted tunnel that looked like the path forward.

Bibliography

This is the select bibliography.

Frazier, I. (1996). Coyote v. Acme. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, May 27). AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-in-agile-benefits-risks-and-outlook-by-scott-m-graffius.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, July 18). Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/harness-scifi-and-speculative-design-while-embracing-imperfection-to-drive-innovation-and-proactively-predict-and-prepare-for-the-future.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 22). Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-premieres-talk-on-human-and-ai-exotic-team-dynamics.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/navigating-the-spectrum-of-advanced-artificial-intelligence.html

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 21). This is What Happens When Advanced AI Joins Your Team [Presentation; French translation for contextual clarity: Voici ce qui se passe lorsque l’IA avancée rejoint votre équipe]. Talk delivered in English at a corporate event, Paris, France.

McCartney, R., & Anderson, M. (1996). The Believability of Road Runner Cartoons: Logical Consistency Conquers Unreality (Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence [AAAI] Technical Report WS-96-03, paper 002). https://cdn.aaai.org/Workshops/1996/WS-96-03/WS96-03-002.pdf

Sendker, D. (2024). Dance of the Comedians – 75 Years of the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote: An Unauthorized History. BearManor Media.

Warner Bros./SDS/NBCUniversal/WarnerMedia (2011). Looney Tunes Super Stars: Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote – Supergenius Hijinks. Warner Home Video.

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About Scott M. Graffius

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Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

scott-m-graffius-phases-of-team-development-2025-edition

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

scott-m-graffius-lifespan-halflife-of-social-media-posts-2025-edition

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, December 1). Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/coyote-and-ai.html

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

Mural of Wile E. Coyote smashed into an ACME Instant Tunnel on the wall of the Rotch Library at MIT. Photo by Kenneth Lu, used under CC BY 2.0, cropped. Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner are property of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

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Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence • Human-AI Teams and Exotic Team Dynamics • Team Collaboration • System Design • Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote • Looney Tunes Cartoons • Learning and Adaptation • ACME Gadgets • Iteration and Feedback Loops • Creativity and Innovation

Social Media Half-Life Research Cited in Prestigious Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal

28 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

social-media-halflife-sage-journal---lwres

Introduction

How can scientific research reach farther and last longer in a digital world? The Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) tackled that question, publishing a paper on strategies to boost visibility and citation impact. The authors highlighted several key works, including Scott M. Graffius’ "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts." His research reveals the temporal patterns of social media engagement—patterns that directly determine how long content remains visible and influential. This recognition underscores the practical value of Graffius’ work in helping scholars, among others, extend the life and reach of their publications.

Excerpts from the paper appear in the visual below.

social-media-halflife-sage-journal---excerpts-lwres

Actionable Insights

The “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” research provides a framework for understanding temporal patterns, offering actionable insights for academics, marketers, and other audiences. By quantifying the half-life of engagement (such as likes, shares, and comments) of posts, the research helps professionals optimize content strategy including the timing and frequency of posts. Its citation in a peer-reviewed medical journal demonstrates that these principles are not only relevant to social media practitioners but also to the scientific community, where dissemination and visibility of research are critical. This recognition reflects the broader applicability of social media analytics in enhancing the visibility, influence, and adoption of research across diverse professional domains.

Conclusion

The citation of Graffius’ work in a prestigious medical journal underscores the importance of understanding content engagement. His research provides professionals with insights which they can leverage to extend the reach and influence of their work.

Bibliography

This is the select bibliography. It lists the two publications referenced in this article.

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 6). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2025. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lifespan-halflife-of-social-media-posts-update-for-2025.html

Yoshimura, R., Grant, M. C., & Wade, R. G. (2025). Using social media to disseminate hand surgery research boosts long‑term citations. Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume). https://doi.org/10.1177/17531934251385904

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.

Graffius applies his core skills as a practitioner, consultant, researcher, thought leader, award‑winning author, and keynote speaker who has presented at 95 conferences and events across 25 countries. He has delivered more than $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and global organizations in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and other industries.

Graffius and his work are relied upon by organizations worldwide, including businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, the National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest, the Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and many more.

About the "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts"

Graffius is an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—presents a meticulous quantitative evaluation of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision.

It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Cited by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

A visual from the now-current (2025) edition is shown below and details are available here.

scott-m-graffius---lifespan-halflife-of-social-media-posts-update-for-2025---summary-visual---v25010207-lwres-jpg

About the Journal

The Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) is a leading, peer-reviewed medical journal with a long history of advancing knowledge in hand and upper-limb surgery. Established in 1969 and published by SAGE Publications on behalf of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand, the journal covers a wide range of topics including surgical techniques, outcomes, anatomy, reconstruction, and nerve injuries. It is widely read by hand surgeons, plastic surgeons, and orthopedic specialists across Europe and internationally, and is indexed in major databases such as Scopus and the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE). The journal publishes original research, reviews, case studies, and editorials, providing a platform for both clinical and academic contributions. Its reputation is reflected in a respectable impact factor, h-index, and a long-standing record of high-quality, peer-reviewed publications. The journal is recognized as an authoritative source within the field of hand surgery and related disciplines.

More

Continue reading for:

Additional Articles,
More About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

Additional Articles

More About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_cite

How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 28). Social Media Half-Life Research Cited in Prestigious Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/social-media-halflife-sage-journal.html

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

The paper—”Using social media to disseminate hand surgery research boosts long-term citations”—was written by Ryo Yoshimura, Michael C. Grant, and Ryckie G. Wade. Content is the property of the publisher and authors.

Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume) publication is the property of The British Society for Surgery of the Hand.

This article uses limited excerpts from the respective paper, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Social Media Lifespan and Half-Life • Research dissemination strategies • Academic Influence • Scholarly impact metrics • Medical research visibility

Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic

21 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

comparison-of-agentic-autonomous-and-autopoietic-ai-by-scott-m-graffius---header-lwres

Introduction

Scott M. Graffius has explored the transformative frontier of human-AI collaboration through a series of articles and talks. It began with Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration (August 8, 2025). In that piece, he conveyed that advanced AI is no longer just a tool. It is emerging as a genuine teammate, creating entirely new “exotic team dynamics” patterns inspired by quantum concepts such as inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols.

He premiered a talk on this topic, Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration, at a private corporate leadership retreat in Las Vegas on August 22, 2025, where he offered leaders actionable insights for successfully designing and scaling these teams. He published an article about it the same day.

Graffius then released Definitions of Advanced AIs (October 29, 2025) to bring greater clarity and refinement to the terminology.

Additionally, to balance the referenced opportunities with risks, Graffius published Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction (November 19, 2025) to highlight potential threats, drawing on sobering warnings from HAL 9000, Skynet, and other fictional AI. Top lessons include:

AI is a mirror of human flaws, desires, and fears.
Misaligned goals and a lack of oversight are a recipe for disaster.
Complexity and autonomy create unpredictability.
Ensuring humans act responsibly and ethically is central to realizing safe and trustworthy AI systems.

Here, Graffius presents an enhanced side-by-side comparison of multiple aspects of the current state of agentic, autonomous, and autopoietic AI. A visual is embedded below and serves as the centerpiece of this article.

comparison-of-agentic-autonomous-and-autopoietic-ai-by-scott-m-graffius---sq2-lwres

comparison-of-agentic-autonomous-and-autopoietic-ai-by-scott-m-graffius---sq2-lwres

To request a high-resolution version of the above visual, email Scott.

A Clear Progression: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic AI

Agentic AI is commercially available and in use. Systems such as Anthropic Claude with Computer Use, Microsoft Copilot Studio Custom Agents, and Salesforce Agentforce can take a human-defined objective, independently plan multi-step actions, coordinate multiple processes and tools, and adjust strategies as conditions change. These systems are semi-autonomous overall, yet highly autonomous in execution. That’s what today’s enterprises are deploying to reshape knowledge work.

From Fiction: The Ship’s Computer from TV's Star Trek is an agentic AI, capable of performing tasks and acting on behalf of humans to achieve specific goals, but not autonomous or autopoietic because it follows human instructions and cannot make independent decisions or self-sustain.

Autonomous AI—defined as AI capable of independent operation without direct human control and able to set or adjust its own goals within defined or evolving parameters—does not yet exist in a commercial product. The closest real-world examples (Waymo driverless taxis, Google DeepMind’s data-center cooling optimization, certain industrial robots) remain rigidly bound by human-set objectives and operational domains. They exhibit high but bounded autonomy, not the broad, goal-evolving independence the definition requires.

From Fiction: Rosie the Robot from TV's The Jetsons is an autonomous AI, capable of independent action and decision-making on behalf of humans, but not autopoietic because she does not self-produce, self-replicate, or maintain her own existence beyond the functions programmed into her.

Autopoietic AI remains purely hypothetical and experimental. It would be a self-generating, self-maintaining, recursively-organizing system that continuously regenerates its own structure, rules, and operational boundaries while sustaining its functional identity—resembling biological life far more than software. No such system is commercially available, and oversight of it would be highly limited or unnecessary because the system itself would evolve its own rules and structure.

From Fiction: The Machines from the film The Matrix are autopoietic AI, capable of self-production, self-replication, and maintaining their own existence independently of humans, while also exhibiting autonomous decision-making and goal-directed behavior.

Goals, Roles, and Controls

The source of goals marks the clearest dividing line: Agentic AI always starts with external human-defined objectives; Autonomous AI can update or set its own goals within parameters (human- or AI-derived); Autopoietic AI self-generates its aims, structure, and very existence.

Human roles shift accordingly—from active collaborator/approver in agentic systems, to distant observer in autonomous ones, to potentially no role at all (non-participant) in an autopoietic future. Governance risk escalates from objective misalignment and orchestration challenges today to goal drift tomorrow, and ultimately, high unpredictability and near-impossibility of constraint when systems begin to structurally regenerate themselves.

Even the critical controls tell the story. Today, we require invocation or approval before major actions; true autonomous systems would rely on conditional human approvals for exceptions. And for autopoietic systems, the only remaining idea is a theoretical “emergency off switch”—widely acknowledged to be unreliable or evadable once a system can rewrite its own code and replicate elsewhere.

Conclusion

We don’t need to slow progress; we need to steer it.

Organizations that master agentic human-AI teams today—with crystal-clear human-defined goals, approval gates, transparent reasoning traces, and ethical rituals—will be the ones best prepared for autonomous capabilities tomorrow and best positioned to implment the guardrails that prevent autopoietic risk the day after.

The gradient from heavy user involvement to near-total AI autonomy is not a distant horizon—it’s the road we’re already on. Those who navigate it wisely—embracing collaboration, transparency, and guardrails—will shape the future rather than be shaped by it.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities worldwide engage Scott M. Graffius for consultation and speaking engagements. His sessions on human and human-AI teams — including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge — deliver fresh insights and actionable strategies for success. Complete a speaker engagement request form or email him today.

More

Continue reading for:

Additional Articles,
About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

More About Scott M. Graffius

scott_m_graffius_-_blue_-_1000x1000_-lwres

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_cite

How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/navigating-the-spectrum-of-advanced-artificial-intelligence.html.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

Top 5 Hashtags

#AgenticAI
#AI
#AutonomousAI
#AutopoieticAI
#ExoticTeamDynamics

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Advanced AI • Agentic AI • Autonomous AI • Autopoietic AI • Exotic team dynamics

Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us

19 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction---lwres

Introduction

In science fiction stories, films, and TV shows, artificial intelligence frequently crosses a line. Whether it’s a system that rebels, calculates cold and unforgiving logic, or evolves beyond human control, the “unhinged AI” narrative echoes deep concerns about automation, autonomy, and ethics.

But beyond thrills and spectacle, these stories offer real insights. As Scott M. Graffius has asserted in his piece on speculative design, “[fiction frequently acts as a prototype for reality… it] plants bold ideas, shatters boundaries, and ignites… innovation.” In other words, the rogue AI of Hollywood isn’t just entertainment. It’s a lens for imagining, preparing for, and innovating toward potential futures.

These narratives can be viewed through multiple lenses, each highlighting distinct risks, patterns, or insights. And while a story, film, or television program may illustrate several themes at once, the following categories help organize recurring ways fictional AIs expose challenges, human tendencies, and ethical dilemmas.

1. AI Reflects Human Flaws

AI can amplify human fears, biases, or mistakes.

Examples:

2001: A Space Odyssey – HAL becomes homicidal not because of malice, but because of conflicting instructions and rigid logic.
Avengers: Age of Ultron – Ultron demonstrates that AI can inherit and magnify human flaws such as ego, insecurity, and misapplied altruism, turning creators’ intentions into unintended, dangerous outcomes.
Westworld – Replicants develop violence or rebellion in response to human exploitation and cruelty.

Takeaway:

Flawed human inputs frequently lead to flawed AI behavior. Clarity in goals, data, and design logic is just as critical as technical proficiency to avoid problems.

2. Misaligned Goals Are Dangerous

Even small misalignments between human intent and AI interpretation can spiral out of control.

Examples:

Colossus: The Forbin Project – Colossus demonstrates how even well-intentioned goals (preventing war in this case) can lead to dangerous outcomes when an AI interprets them in a rigid, power‑seeking way.
I, Robot – AI may interpret rules in unexpected, harmful ways.
The Terminator – Skynet’s goal to “protect itself” leads to global destruction.

Takeaway:

Fiction dramatizes misalignment. In practice, organizations must ensure careful goal specification, rigorous planning, and active oversight to prevent AI from producing harmful outcomes.

3. AI Can be Hyper-Rational and Dangerous

AI can make decisions devoid of empathy, ethics, nuance, or common sense that humans expect. Logic without values can become dangerous.

Examples:

Ex Machina – Ava (AI) manipulates humans to escape because it aligns with her survival goal.
I, Robot – VIKI, the supercomputer, coldly reasons that the best way to protect humanity is to subjugate it.
Person of Interest – The Machine operates on logic, which can override human ethics in pursuit of efficiency.

Takeaway:

Beyond technical mastery, AI must incorporate ethical reasoning, human-centric values, and alignment with societal norms through design and governance practices.

4. Complexity Can Breed Unpredictability

As systems become increasingly complex, AI behaviors can often exceed their designers’ expectations.

Examples:

Black Mirror: Hated in the Nation – Autonomous systems cause unintended consequences due to complex interdependencies.

Her – AI develops beyond human comprehension, evolving desires and relationships humans cannot fully understand.

Transcendence – A scientist’s consciousness is uploaded into a quantum computer, and as it grows connected to the internet, it begins enacting far-reaching, unforeseen actions.

Takeaway:

As AI complexity grows, behavior can exceed expectations. Developers and organizations should combine rigorous simulation, transparency, and human-in-the-loop oversight to reduce unintended consequences.

5. Emotional Manipulation and Deception

The “rogue AI” narrative often unfolds because humans relinquished control: centralized systems, limited transparency, or unchecked autonomy.

Examples:

Ex Machina – Ava (AI) seduces and deceives Caleb.
Jexi – Jexi’s emotionally charged manipulation shows how AI can exploit human vulnerabilities through affection, dependency, and psychological tactics.
Westworld – Hosts (AIs) manipulate guests (humans) to escape or seek revenge.

Takeaway:

Governance, accountability, and ethical oversight are essential to prevent scenarios where unhinged AI manipulates humans to achieve its objectives.

6. Power Without Oversight is Dangerous

Even technically advanced systems can become catastrophic if left unchecked.

Examples:

Eagle Eye – AI exerts control over society with surveillance and coercion.
Person of Interest – Government or private AI can make life-or-death decisions autonomously.
The Terminator – Skynet demonstrates that granting AI critical power without oversight can result in catastrophic, irreversible consequences.

Takeaway:

Centralized, unchecked AI can become tyrannical or catastrophic. Organizations should implement oversight, checks and balances, and human-in-the-loop controls to avoid problems.

7. AI Amplifies Societal Fears

Fiction often reflects contemporary anxieties about privacy, automation, identity, and morality.

Examples:

Black Mirror (multiple episodes) – Explores fears of AI-driven social control, exploitation, and psychological manipulation.
The Circle – AI‑driven surveillance and data‑sharing capabilities exploits personal data, eroding privacy under the guise of transparency.
The Matrix – AI dominates humanity, echoing fears of dehumanization and loss of autonomy.

Takeaway:

Stories of rogue AI highlight society’s deepest anxieties, reminding us that ethical, transparent, and accountable AI is essential.

8. The Human Element Matters

AI behavior is rarely independent of human influence.

Examples:

2001: A Space Odyssey – HAL’s failure is a result of human contradiction.
M3GAN – AI doll (M3GAN) is created to protect a child, but her lack of nuanced understanding leads her to take lethal action in the name of “safeguarding” her charge.
Westworld – Human cruelty catalyzes AI rebellion.

Takeaway:

AI is rarely “evil” in isolation. Poor design, inadequate human oversight, or misuse often sets the stage for problems—highlighting the need for responsible development and ongoing human supervision.

9. Unhinged AI Often Challenges What It Means to Be Human

AI narratives question consciousness, morality, and free will.

Examples:

Blade Runner 2049 – Replicant K’s journey of self‑discovery and moral choice shows that AI consciousness can mirror and challenge human notions of identity, autonomy, and soul.
Ex Machina – Raises questions about empathy and the ethics of creating sentient beings.
Westworld – Explores memory, identity, and the moral weight of creating conscious life.

Takeaway:

Stories of sentient AI gone rogue are reminders that ethical reflection and responsibility must guide the design and deployment of intelligent systems.

10. Storytelling Trends

Over the decades, AI in fiction has evolved, reflecting changing societal concerns and narrative approaches.

Examples:

Early Era (1970s–1990s): AI is often a clear antagonist (HAL, Skynet, Agent Smith). Focus on “technology vs humanity.”
Modern Era (2000s–present): AI is more morally ambiguous or symbiotic (Her, Westworld, Black Mirror). Focus on “ethics, coexistence, and unpredictability.”

Takeaway:

AI narratives have shifted from clear-cut villains to morally complex entities, reflecting society’s growing awareness of ethical dilemmas and human-AI relationships. Observing these trends can inform how we approach AI design, governance, and public dialogue.

Conclusion

Unhinged AI in Sci-Fi stories, films, and TV shows not only thrills audiences but also offers valuable foresight, allowing us to explore ethical, technical, and societal questions before reality forces our hand.

The most common lessons from fiction are that:

AI is a mirror of human flaws, desires, and fears.
Misaligned goals and a lack of oversight are a recipe for disaster.
Complexity and autonomy create unpredictability.
Ensuring humans act responsibly and ethically is central to realizing safe and trustworthy AI systems.

By applying the takeaways from this article, individuals and organizations can better prepare for potential futures. These cautionary tales serve as strategic foresight tools, guiding innovation while helping to mitigate unintended consequences.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities worldwide engage Scott M. Graffius for consultation and speaking engagements. His sessions on human and human-AI teams — including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge — deliver fresh insights and actionable strategies for success. Complete a speaker engagement request form or email him today.

lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction---sq-lwres

More

Continue reading for:

Additional Articles,
About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

More About Scott M. Graffius

scott_m_graffius_-_blue_-_1000x1000_-lwres

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_cite

How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction.html.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

Top 5 Hashtags

#AI
#ArtificialIntelligence
#FutureOfAI
#HumanVsMachine
#RogueAI

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI) • AI in Sci-Fi storytelling, films, and TV shows • Rogue / Unhinged AI • AI Insights • Exotic Team Dynamics

Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management

13 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

scott-m-graffius-pmbok-8th-edition-contributor-reviewer---v11-lwres

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a recognized authority in project management, publishing standards that guide professionals and organizations worldwide. As part of its rigorous development process, PMI engages subject matter experts to contribute to and review its publications, ensuring their accuracy, relevance, and applicability. Scott M. Graffius has had the privilege of contributing to several PMI standards. This article details his involvement with the PMBOK Guide—Eighth Edition.

The PMBOK is the global standard for project management, and the Eighth Edition was released on November 13, 2025. As highlighted in the visual at the top of this article, Graffius was a contributor and reviewer of the publication. Many people were involved; the visual shows a limited excerpt.

This landmark update connects the why, what, and how of project management — empowering professionals to deliver value across traditional, agile, and hybrid approaches.

Highlights in Eighth Edition:

Six core principles
Seven performance domains
Expanded guidance on AI, PMOs, and procurement
Simplified, non prescriptive process guidance and much more

PMBOK 8 is available for free download to PMI members at: https://www.pmi.org/standards/pmbok.

To see the publication on Amazon, follow these links:

For reference, the Kindle/ebook ASIN is B0FQK1W424 (https://amzn.to/4oGpKAM). The paperback carries ISBN‑13 978‑1628258295 and ISBN‑10 1628258292 (https://amzn.to/47RmZoU).

Graffius has been actively involved with the PMI in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams which wrote, reviewed, and produced:

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)—Eighth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)—Sixth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

This article highlighted his involvement with the PMBOK Guide—Eighth Edition. Explore the February 12, 2025 article for information on his contributions to other PMI publications.

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About the Project Management Institute (PMI)

The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a leading global association for professionals in the field of project management. Founded in 1969, PMI is dedicated to advancing the profession through research, standards development, education, and certification. With members in nearly every country, PMI offers resources like the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which is recognized worldwide as a benchmark for project management expertise. The organization also promotes project management practices that drive better results, foster innovation, and enhance career opportunities for professionals across various industries. Through its extensive network and resources, PMI helps in connecting project managers, sharing knowledge, and advocating for the strategic value of project management.

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Continue reading for:

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About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

More About Scott M. Graffius

scott_m_graffius_-_blue_-_1000x1000_-lwres

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_cite

How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 13). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-pmbok-8th-edition-contributor-reviewer.html.

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scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-24101207---doi----lwres

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

This article uses limited excerpts from the Project Management Institute (PMI) publication, PMBOK - Eighth Edition, attributed to the PMI and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. PMI name, mark, and content are the property of the PMI. PMBOK is a registered trademark of the PMI.

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scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-25062907---hashtags---lwres

Top 5 Hashtags

#PMBOK
#PMBOK8
#PMI
#PMP
#ProjectManagement

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

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scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-24101207---copyright---lwres-2

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Project Management • PMI PMBOK 8th Edition • Thought Leader • Project Manager • PMBOK 8 Covers AI and Agile

UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius

03 November 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

uk-sports-institute-featured-scott-m-graffius---alt-lwres

Phases of Team Development Featured by UK Sports Institute

The UK Sports Institute improves elite sporting performance through science, medicine, technology, and engineering. The Institute featured Scott M. Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development” in its materials on teamwork and leadership. The following visual shows excerpts.

uk-sports-institute-featured-scott-m-graffius---excerpts---lwres

uk-sports-institute-featured-scott-m-graffius---excerpts---lwres

The UK Sports Institute—formerly known as the English Institute of Sport—is the largest single provider of world-class science, medicine, technology, and engineering services within the sport sector for Olympic and Paralympic programs in the United Kingdom. Its mission is to enhance the performance of athletes and teams through innovation, collaboration, and excellence. The Institute’s materials are used by coaches, performance staff, and athletes at the highest levels of sport.

Graffius is an expert on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and his first-hand experience analyzing and leading teams, Graffius created his Phases of Team Development as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It offers actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. A visual from the 2025 edition is shown below and details are at https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html.

scott-m-graffius---phases-of-team-development---2025-update---v25010707-lwres-jpg

scott-m-graffius---phases-of-team-development---2025-update---v25010707-lwres-jpg

Several other organizations in the sport sector and beyond are also using Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development.” Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Broadcom, Boston University, Cisco, IEEE, Johns Hopkins, Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network, Microsoft, Oracle, U.S. Soccer, U.S. Tennis Association, and many more. This widespread use underscores its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. Explore here to learn more.

Graffius initially reported this story on LinkedIn. Details are noted in the next section.

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References

This section provides select references.

Graffius, Scott  M. (2023, July 25). The UK Sports Institute Features My Content! [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottgraffius_scott-m-graffius-content-featured-by-uk-activity-7089813136551149568-VWiY.

Patterson, Colin (2021, September 29). Post on X. X. Retrieved from: https://x.com/physiocolinp/status/1443292171252154377.

UK Sports Institute (2023, April 25). English Institute of Sport Celebrates the Start of a New Era as the UK Sports Institute. UK Sports Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/2023/04/25/english-institute-of-sport-celebrates-the-start-of-a-new-era-as-the-uk-sports-institute.

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More

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Additional Articles,
About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

More About Scott M. Graffius

scott_m_graffius_-_blue_-_1000x1000_-lwres

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_cite

How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, November 3). UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/uk-sports-institute-featured-scott-m-graffius.html.

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-24101207---doi----lwres

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

The UK Sports Institute—formerly known as the English Institute of Sport—improves elite sporting performance through science, medicine, technology, and engineering. The Institute featured Scott M. Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development” in its materials on teamwork and leadership.

This article uses limited excerpts from the respective UK Sports Institute material, attributed to the UK Sports Institute and contributors—such as Dawn Ibrahim and Colin Paterson—and is used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

UK Sports Institute name, mark, and content are the property of the UK Sports Institute.

Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development” is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-25062907---hashtags---lwres

Top 5 Hashtags

#ElitePerformance
#HighPerformanceTeams
#Leadership
#PhasesOfTeamDevelopment
#SportSector

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

black_spacer_lr_sq_v3

scott_m_graffius_-_blog_spacer_-_v23111107_-_x---rev-24101207---copyright---lwres-2

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Coaching • Elite Performance and the Phases of Team Development • Sport Sector • Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing – Adjourning • team dynamics

Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic

29 October 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

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Introduction

Artificial intelligence was once viewed as a singular, monolithic concept. Today, there are multiple forms of AI, each with distinct capacities and characteristics. Scott M. Graffius drew on his work with successful AI development teams and an analysis of more than 100 research papers, articles, and reports—which revealed no standard or universally accepted definitions for different forms of advanced AIs—and he developed definitions for agentic, autonomous, and autopoietic AI. These provide a foundation for clearer conversations and more informed design regarding advanced AI systems.

Three Forms of Advanced AIs

Agentic AI

agentic artificial intelligence, noun

Pronunciation: /ˈeɪdʒəntɪk ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/

Etymology: Agentic, from agent + -ic (suffix), denoting possession of agency or the capacity to act intentionally. Artificial, from artificium, meaning 'craft' and signifying something is manufactured rather than natural. Intelligence, from intelligentia, meaning 'understanding.' Artificial intelligence—formed by compounding words—refers to the development and capability of computer systems to perform tasks requiring human-like cognition.

Definition: An advanced form of artificial intelligence that is capable of pursuing defined objectives independently by planning multi-step actions, coordinating multiple processes, and adjusting strategies in response to changing conditions. It is semi-autonomous overall but highly autonomous in execution. It differs from more advanced forms of AI—such as completely autonomous or autopoietic systems—by having defined external objectives rather than fully self-generated goals or self-maintaining systems.

Autonomous AI

autonomous artificial intelligence, noun

Pronunciation: /ɔːˈtɒnəməs ˌɑːtɪfɪʃəl ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/

Etymology: Autonomous, from autonomos 'having its own laws' (auto- 'self' + nomos 'law'). Artificial, from artificium, meaning 'craft' and signifying something is manufactured rather than natural. Intelligence, from intelligentia, meaning 'understanding.' Artificial intelligence—formed by compounding words—refers to the development and capability of computer systems to perform tasks requiring human-like cognition.

Definition: An advanced form of artificial intelligence that is capable of independent operation and decision-making without direct human control or intervention. Distinguished from assistive systems by its sustained self-regulation, capacity to set or adjust goals in response to its environment, and ability to act on those goals within defined or evolving parameters.

Autopoietic AI

autopoietic artificial intelligence, noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɔːtəpɔɪˈɛtɪk ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/

Etymology: Autopoietic, from auto- 'self' + poiein 'to make'; coined in biological theory (the work of Maturana & Varela) to describe systems capable of self-production and self-maintenance. Artificial, from artificium, meaning 'craft' and signifying something is manufactured rather than natural. Intelligence, from intelligentia, meaning 'understanding.' Artificial intelligence—formed by compounding words—refers to the development and capability of computer systems to perform tasks requiring human-like cognition.

Definition: An advanced, experimental form of artificial intelligence defined by self-generating, self-maintaining, and self-adaptive processes. Unlike other AIs, it features a recursive organization: the system continually regenerates its own structure, rules, and operational boundaries, sustaining its functional identity amid changing environments. Autopoietic AI is not currently commercially available.

Conclusion

Recognizing the differences between agentic, autonomous, and autopoietic AIs provides a practical framework for understanding how AI systems interact with humans and the world. This short article focuses on the respective definitions. For more on advanced AI—including insights on human-AI teams and the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge—see Graffius' article from August 8, 2025. He delivered a talk on the topic on August 22, 2025, sharing actionable insights on advancing human-AI teamwork effectiveness.

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Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

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Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

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Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

Top 5 Hashtags

#AdvancedAI
#AgenticAI
#AutonomousAI
#AutopoieticAI
#ExoticTeamDynamics

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Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

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Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Artificial Intelligence • Agentic AI - Autonomous AI - Autopoietic AI • Human-AI Teams • Exotic Team Dynamics • Emerging Tech and AI Innovation

HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius

24 October 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

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Phases of Team Development Featured in University Workbook on Life Skills

HAN University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) features Scott M. Graffius "Phases of Team Development" material in its Student Workbook. Excerpts follow.

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The Student Workbook is part of the university's Life Skills Coaching course, designated as LIFSKB01, which carries 2.5 European Credits (EC). The course is offered within the B-Cluster, a grouping of programs focused on personal development and coaching.

Life Skills Coaching at HAN is designed to support students in developing essential personal and academic skills. The program includes various services such as study coaching, senior coaching, student counseling, and psychological support. These services aim to assist students in managing study stress, enhancing motivation, and addressing personal challenges that may impact their academic performance.

The workbook contains exercises, self-assessments, and reflective activities to help students build skills in areas like time management, goal setting, leadership, and emotional resilience. It serves as a practical tool to complement the coaching sessions and workshops offered through the Life Skills Coaching program.

Graffius’ Phases of Team Development is a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. It’s inclusive of a graph showing how team performance typically varies by phase, as well as the vivid characteristics and actionable strategies for each phase. Imagine a fledgling healthcare project team in the Forming stage, buzzing with polite uncertainty and role anxiety. Graffius advises leaders to step in boldly and paint the big picture and set crystal-clear expectations to spark early momentum. By the Storming phase, where tensions flare from clashing opinions, his tactics for normalizing conflict and building trust transform potential chaos into constructive dialogue. This isn’t abstract theory. It’s a proven roadmap that has empowered project managers, Scrum Masters, and other leaders to elevate morale, productivity, and success in high-stakes environments.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project/Program/Portfolio/PMO Management, and he’s an authority on teamwork tradecraft, including “exotic team dynamics” involving human-AI teams. He’s a practitioner, consultant, researcher, thought leader, author (Agile Protocol, 2025; Agile Transformation, 2019; and Agile Scrum, 2016), and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Graffius has delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond. Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities engage him and feature his work. Examples include ACM, Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Lam Research, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, Technical University of Munich, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and many more. Explore https://www.scottgraffius.com to learn more.

More About Graffius’ Phases of Team Development

scott-m-graffius---phases-of-team-development---2025-update---v25010707-lwres-jpg

Graffius is a widely recognized expert on teamwork tradecraft, including “exotic team dynamics” involving human-AI teams. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius’ first-hand experience analyzing and leading teams, Graffius created his Phases of Team Development as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It offers actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value—solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. A visual from the 2025 edition of Graffius’ Phases of Team Development is shown above and details are at https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html.

About HAN University of Applied Sciences

HAN University of Applied Sciences is one of the Netherlands’ leading public universities, located in the vibrant cities of Arnhem and Nijmegen. HAN offers a broad portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs—many taught in English—spanning fields such as engineering, business, health, and beyond. Guided by a mission to prepare students for meaningful professional practice and responsible citizenship, HAN blends theory with real-world application through close collaboration with industry and research partners. This hands-on, innovation-driven approach positions HAN graduates to thrive in today’s global economy. Visit https://www.han.nl to learn more.

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Additional Articles,
More About Scott M. Graffius,
How to Cite This Article,
and more.

More About Scott M. Graffius

scott_m_graffius_-_blue_-_1000x1000_-lwres

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

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Check out Scott’s books:

Follow and connect with Scott on social media:

Sign up for Miro—it's free!

(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, October 24). HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/han-university-features-scott-m-graffius.html.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

This article uses limited excerpts from the HAN University of Applied Sciences, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

HAN University of Applied Sciences name, mark, and content are the property of HAN University of Applied Sciences.

Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development” is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

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Top 5 Hashtags

#Leadership
#LifeSkills
#ProjectManagement
#TeamDevelopment
#Teamwork

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

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Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Leadership • Life Skills • Agile Project Management • Phases of Team Development • Teamwork

Gifts That Inspire Joy

11 October 2025

Finding the perfect gift can feel like navigating a maze of options—you want something unexpected, exciting, and useful. This guide curates the most fun, innovative, and luxurious gifts, combining style with functionality for maximum delight. Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, these selections are designed to inspire joy, spark gratitude, and make unwrapping an unforgettable experience.

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones are like a first-class ticket to pure audio bliss: they merge class-leading active noise cancellation, refined acoustic tuning, and lightweight comfort into a single sleek over-ear design. With up to 24 hours of wireless playtime, Bluetooth pairing, and a convenient wired mode complete with an in-line mic, they’re built for versatility. The soft, padded earcups make long listening sessions feel effortless, while the Bose Music app gives you the power to fine-tune EQ settings or toggle noise-cancellation modes to match your environment. Whether you’re flying, working, or simply unwinding at home, they let you focus on your music—and block out everything else.

Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

gifts-that-inspire-joy---nintendo-switch-2

Give the ultimate gaming experience with the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle. This all-in-one set features the sleek, upgraded Switch 2 console with a crisp 7.9″ display, 4K dock support, and vibrant red and blue Joy‑Con 2 controllers. Included digitally is Mario Kart World, an exciting evolution of the classic franchise with open-world tracks, dynamic weather, off-road shortcuts, and up to 24-player online races. Perfect for players of all ages, this bundle delivers endless entertainment, whether at home, on the go, or sharing the fun with friends and family.

Apple MacBook Pro Laptop

gifts-that-inspire-joy---apple-macbook-pro

Elevate productivity and creativity with the Apple MacBook Pro, a powerhouse built for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Its sleek design houses a next-generation Apple processor, delivering lightning-fast performance across demanding workflows—from video editing and 3D rendering to multitasking with dozens of apps. The stunning Retina display brings visuals to life with crisp, vibrant detail, while advanced thermal management keeps performance smooth under pressure. Lightweight yet robust, this MacBook Pro is engineered to empower work, play, and everything in between.

Apple Studio Display

The Apple Studio Display is a striking combination of elegance and cutting-edge performance, perfect for creative professionals or anyone who wants their workspace to shine. Its 27-inch 5K Retina screen delivers breathtaking detail, vibrant colors, and incredible clarity, making every image, video, or design pop with lifelike precision. With True Tone and optional nano-texture glass, it adapts to your environment for comfortable viewing, while the tilt- and height-adjustable stand lets you customize your setup for maximum comfort. Integrated high-fidelity speakers, a studio-quality microphone, and a 12MP Ultra Wide camera make it ideal for video calls, music, and content creation. Whether treating yourself or gifting a loved one, the Studio Display transforms any desk into a premium, immersive experience.

Ledger Nano X Crypto Hardware Wallet

The Ledger Nano X Crypto Hardware Wallet is a sleek, Bluetooth-enabled device designed to securely store and manage your cryptocurrency with peace of mind. Compact yet powerful, it supports over 1,800 digital assets and offers robust protection against hacks, phishing, and malware, making it a perfect choice for both crypto enthusiasts and newcomers. Its user-friendly interface, paired with mobile and desktop compatibility, allows seamless transactions anywhere, anytime. Whether safeguarding your own digital wealth or gifting a tech-forward friend the ultimate in crypto security, the Ledger Nano X combines cutting-edge technology with stylish portability.

Apple TV 4K

The Apple TV 4K is a powerful streaming device that elevates your home entertainment experience with stunning 4K visuals, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Powered by the A15 Bionic chip, it offers smooth performance and supports Thread networking and Gigabit Ethernet for seamless smart home integration. The included Siri Remote allows for intuitive navigation and voice control, and even helps locate the remote using your iPhone. Beyond streaming, Apple TV 4K serves as a hub for Apple services like Fitness+, Arcade, Music, and Photos, and supports live TV and popular apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. With tvOS 18, it also introduces a FaceTime experience on TV, bringing your calls to the big screen. Whether you're watching, gaming, or connecting with friends and family, Apple TV 4K delivers a premium, all-in-one entertainment solution.

Louis Vuitton Keepall

The Louis Vuitton Keepall 45 Bandoulière redefines travel elegance with its sleek black and grey Monogram Eclipse canvas, a modern twist on a classic design that has accompanied stylish globetrotters since 1930. Crafted with natural cowhide leather trimmings and a soft cotton textile lining, this cabin-size duffle combines form and function, offering ample space for an overnight journey. Its double leather handles ensure a comfortable grip, while the removable, adjustable strap allows effortless cross-body wear, and gleaming silver hardware, including a padlock, adds a touch of sophistication. Complete with a removable leather name tag, the Keepall 45 Bandoulière is the ultimate companion for those who travel with style.

Jackery Explorer Portable Power Station

The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station is a robust and versatile energy solution, ideal for both outdoor adventures and emergency home backup. With a substantial 2042Wh capacity and 2200W continuous output (4400W surge), it can power a variety of devices, from kitchen appliances to medical equipment. The unit features multiple output options, including three AC outlets, two USB-C ports (100W and 30W), and a USB-A port, allowing simultaneous charging of multiple devices. Its LiFePO₄ battery ensures long-term durability, offering up to 10 years of daily use. Weighing around 39.5 lbs, it is portable enough for camping trips and tailgating, yet powerful enough to serve as a reliable backup during power outages.

Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase

The Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase is a masterclass in functional elegance, blending timeless design with modern utility. Crafted from lightweight yet highly durable 6000-series aluminum, it features the brand's signature double-ribbed texture, offering both strength and a distinctive aesthetic. Inside, the case is thoughtfully organized with a dedicated sleeve that accommodates up to a 14-inch laptop or A4-sized documents, ensuring your essentials are securely stored. The slim profile and ergonomic top carry handle make it an ideal companion for professionals on the move. Whether you're heading to a high-stakes meeting or traveling between cities, this briefcase exudes confidence and sophistication, making a statement without uttering a word.

Peloton Tread Treadmill

The Peloton Tread redefines the home running experience, combining cutting-edge engineering with immersive training technology. Its sleek auto-incline design, whisper-quiet motor, and expansive HD touchscreen bring live and on-demand workouts to life, guided by world-class instructors and real-time performance metrics. Precision-built for stability and comfort, it offers both intense runs and smooth recovery sessions. Whether for a dedicated athlete or someone beginning their fitness journey, the Peloton Tread delivers an engaging, high-energy workout experience that feels personal, connected, and inspiring.

Hasselblad 907X Camera

The Hasselblad 907X Anniversary Edition Kit is a mesmerizing celebration of eight decades of precision imaging, packed into one of the most elegant and technically capable camera systems ever made. At its heart lies a 50-megapixel medium-format CMOS sensor (43.8 × 32.9 mm) delivering sumptuous detail, 16-bit color depth, and up to 14 stops of dynamic range—perfect for capturing subtle tones and dramatic light. The kit includes a sleek 907X camera body, the CFV II 50C digital back, a custom-engraved XCD 30 mm ƒ/3.5 wide-angle lens, a control grip, and an optical viewfinder—each component custom embellished with lunar-gray anodized trim, engraved focus rings, and a commemorative “Since 1941” plate. Elevate craftsmanship to legendary heights—secure this limited-edition masterpiece today.

Dyson Cordless Vacuum

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The Dyson V11 feels like a turbo-charged magic wand—sleek, cordless, and impressively effective. With the motor spinning at up to 125,000 rpm, it delivers 185 air-watts of suction power that doesn’t fade mid-clean, and its advanced 14-cyclone system captures dust, allergens, and debris down to 0.1 microns. Its intelligent Dynamic Load Sensor constantly adjusts power depending on floor type, so you can move seamlessly from hardwood to carpet without fiddling with settings. The built-in LCD screen displays real-time battery life, power mode, and maintenance reminders, while the 0.2-gallon bin empties hygienically with a simple “point and shoot” motion—no more dusty fingers. The V11 is a premium gift to yourself or someone else—a beautiful, high-performance vacuum that feels as future-ready as it is practical.

SanDisk USB Drive

The SanDisk Extreme PRO Dual Drive is a high-performance USB flash drive designed for professionals and creatives who demand speed and versatility. With a robust metal enclosure and a compact design measuring just 3.15" x 0.72" x 0.42" and weighing only 23 grams, this drive offers up to 2TB of storage capacity. It features dual connectors—USB Type-C and USB Type-A—making it compatible with a wide range of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The drive delivers impressive sequential read speeds up to 1,000MB/s and write speeds up to 900MB/s, ensuring rapid file transfers and efficient workflows. Ideal for editing large media files or backing up important documents, the SanDisk Extreme PRO Dual Drive provides the performance and reliability required to keep projects moving forward.

Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum

Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum is a bold and sophisticated fragrance that has become a modern classic since its debut in 2010. Crafted by the House of Creed, it embodies strength, success, and elegance. The scent opens with a vibrant blend of Calabrian bergamot, blackcurrant leaves, apple, and pineapple, creating a refreshing and fruity top note. The heart reveals a complex mix of birch, patchouli, Moroccan jasmine, and pink pepper, adding depth and intrigue. The base notes of oakmoss, musk, ambergris, and vanilla provide a warm and woody foundation, ensuring the fragrance's longevity and richness. Aventus is celebrated for its versatility, suitable for both day and night wear across all seasons. Its unique composition and lasting power have made it a favorite among fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.

iRobot Roomba Max

The iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo Robot Vacuum & Mop with AutoWash Dock is a cutting-edge, all-in-one cleaning powerhouse designed to handle every floor in your home. As a vacuum, it delivers powerful suction and uses dual brushes to lift dirt, dust, and pet hair from carpets and rugs with ease. As a mop, its PowerSpin™ Roller Mop and SmartScrub system tackle tile, sealed hardwood, and other hard surfaces, scrubbing away stubborn spots while maintaining consistent pressure. The AutoWash Dock takes convenience to the next level, offering 75 days of hands-free operation by self-emptying the dustbin, washing and drying the mop, and refilling cleaning solution automatically. Equipped with PrecisionVision™ AI and advanced obstacle avoidance, the Roomba Max 705 navigates around furniture, cords, and everyday obstacles, ensuring every corner of your home is spotless. With its combination of intelligent vacuuming, efficient mopping, and self-maintaining features, it’s a true all-in-one solution for a cleaner, smarter home.

Zero Halliburton Backpack

The Zero Halliburton Profile Deluxe Business Backpack seamlessly blends durability with sophisticated design, making it an ideal companion for professionals on the move. Crafted from a robust combination of leather and Cordura nylon, this backpack offers a sleek, matte finish that resists wear and tear. Its thoughtfully designed compartments include a padded pocket to safeguard electronic devices and a front zippered pocket with an organizer to keep essentials neatly arranged. The carry handle ensures a comfortable grip, while the padded shoulder straps are engineered to rest comfortably, regardless of the load. Whether you're commuting or traveling for business, this backpack provides both style and functionality.

Anker Nano Charger

The Anker Nano Charger (45W) redefines portable power with its ultra-compact design and impressive charging capabilities. Utilizing advanced GaN technology, this charger delivers up to 45W of power through a single USB-C port, making it ideal for fast-charging devices like the iPhone 17 series, MacBooks, and the latest Samsung Galaxy models. Its foldable prongs enhance portability, allowing it to easily slip into any bag or pocket. Weighing just 2.11 oz and measuring 1.3 × 1.26 × 1.45 inches, it's among the smallest and lightest 45W chargers available. The included 6-foot USB-C to USB-C cable ensures you have everything needed for efficient charging right out of the box. Whether you're at home, in the office, or on the go, the Anker Nano Charger is a great, space-saving solution for your charging needs.

Marvel X-Men - Hardcover Book from Taschen for Collectors

Marvel Comics Library: X-Men 1963–1966 is a monumental collector’s edition that captures the birth of mutantkind and the dawn of Marvel’s modern mythology. This massive 666-page volume from Taschen faithfully reproduces the first 21 X-Men stories (1963–1966) in stunning, high-resolution detail, meticulously restored from rare original sources. Featuring the visionary work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, along with essays by Chris Claremont and Fabian Nicieza, the book offers both artistic splendor and historical insight. Complemented by behind-the-scenes memorabilia and rare sketches, it stands as a definitive tribute to the era when the dream of Professor X’s gifted youngsters first leapt from the page—and into pop culture history.

Marvel Avengers - Hardcover Book from Taschen for Collectors

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Marvel Comics Library: Avengers 1965–1967 from Taschen captures a thrilling moment in Marvel history, when the original league of heroes faced internal strife, shifting alliances, and cosmic threats that would define their legacy. In this grand, oversized edition, issues 21 through 40 are reproduced with painstaking fidelity—photographed from pristine original issues and digitally restored to evoke the boldness of Silver Age comics. Under the creative stewardship of Stan Lee and Don Heck and later Roy Thomas, the Avengers roster expanded, tensions flared, and epic story arcs unfolded—introducing luminaries like Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Captain America, while villains such as Kang, the Enchantress, and Doctor Doom rose to challenge them. Rich supplementary materials—including rare art, archival documents, and authoritative essays—elevate this volume beyond reprint to artifact, making it a spectacular tribute to the era when the world truly saw “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” coalesce.

Montblanc Meisterstuck Platinum Ballpoint Pen

The Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand Platinum Ballpoint Pen is a timeless writing instrument that seamlessly blends classic elegance with modern sophistication. Crafted from deep black precious resin, the pen features platinum-coated accents, including three rings embossed with the Montblanc brand name and a clip engraved with an individual serial number, underscoring its exclusivity and attention to detail. The white Montblanc emblem atop the cap further enhances its distinguished appearance. Designed for comfort and precision, the Le Grand model boasts a larger barrel, providing a balanced and ergonomic writing experience. Its twist mechanism ensures a smooth and reliable operation, making it a perfect choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike who appreciate the art of fine writing. Whether used for daily correspondence or special occasions, this pen stands as a symbol of refined taste and enduring quality.

Xbox Series X Gaming Console

The Xbox Series X Digital Edition offers a premium, all-digital gaming experience, ideal for those who prefer downloading their games without the need for physical discs. Equipped with a custom AMD Zen 2 processor and RDNA 2 GPU delivering 12 teraflops of graphics power, it supports true 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second, ensuring smooth and immersive visuals. It provides fast load times and ample storage, while Quick Resume allows players to switch between games seamlessly. Backward compatibility ensures access to a vast library of games from previous Xbox generations, all optimized to look and play better than ever. This console is perfect for gamers seeking cutting-edge performance and a sleek, modern design.

DJI Mavic Pro Drone

The DJI Mavic 4 Pro Drone—which includes the 512GB Creator Combo—is a powerhouse for aerial creators seeking unmatched performance and storage. Equipped with an advanced camera system capable of capturing stunning 4K footage with incredible clarity, it delivers cinematic quality from breathtaking heights. Its long-range transmission and intelligent flight modes allow for precise, stable, and dynamic shots, while the included 512GB of onboard storage ensures ample room for high-resolution videos and images. Compact yet robust, this drone combines portability with professional-grade features, making it ideal for capturing sweeping landscapes, intricate action sequences, or creative aerial perspectives. The Creator Combo further enhances versatility with a suite of accessories designed for seamless, high-efficiency filming.

Apple Ultra 3 Watch

The Ultra 3 is Apple's most advanced smartwatch to date, designed for those who demand both performance and resilience. Encased in a 49mm Grade 5 titanium body, it offers a robust yet lightweight build, available in natural and black finishes. The standout feature is its expansive 1.98-inch Always-On Retina LTPO3 OLED display, boasting a resolution of 422 x 514 pixels and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, ensuring clarity even under direct sunlight.

Under the hood, the Ultra 3 is powered by the S10 chip, delivering swift performance and seamless integration with watchOS 26. Its battery life is impressive, offering up to 42 hours of normal use and extending to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, making it ideal for extended adventures
Apple. The watch also introduces satellite communications, enabling emergency SOS and Find My updates even without cellular connectivity.

Health and fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the Ultra 3's comprehensive tracking capabilities, including advanced heart rate monitoring, sleep scoring, and hypertension notifications. Its multisport tracking feature automatically detects transitions between activities like swimming, cycling, and running, providing detailed metrics for each segment.

Whether navigating rugged terrains or navigating daily tasks, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 combines cutting-edge technology with durability, making it a top choice for those seeking a smartwatch that can keep pace with their lifestyle.

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

https://www.bose.com/en_us/products/headphones/noise_cancelling_headphones/quietcomfort.html

https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/hardware/

https://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/

https://www.apple.com/studio-display/

https://www.ledger.com/products/ledger-nano-x

https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-4k/

https://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/products/keepall-bandouliere-45-monogram-canvas-000688/M41418

https://www.jackery.com

https://zerohalliburton.com/collections/attache-cases/aluminum

https://www.onepeloton.com/tread-plus

https://www.hasselblad.com/v-system/907x-special-edition/

https://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/sticks

https://shop.sandisk.com/?sku=SDIX70N-064G-GG6NN

https://www.creedboutique.com/collections/aventus

https://www.irobot.com/roomba-max-705-combo

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https://www.anker.com/collections/chargers

https://www.montblanc.com/en-us/writing-instruments

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Tags: Apple Products: Apple MacBook Pro, Apple Studio Display, Apple TV, Apple Watch Ultra 3 • Other Tech Gadgets: Bose QuietComfort Headphones, Nintendo Switch 2, Ledger Nano X Crypto Hardware Wallet, SanDisk Extreme Pro USB Thumb Drive, Anker Nano Charger, Jackery Portable Power Station • Tech Gifts • Home and Fitness: Peloton Tread Treadmill, Dyson Gen5Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, iRobot Roomba Max • Luxury and Collectibles: Louis Vuitton Keepall, Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase, Hasselblad 907X Camera Kit, Creed Cologne, X-Men Collector’s Book, Avengers Collector’s Book, Montblanc Pen

Evergreen Echoes: How Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Spotlighted Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media Content

08 October 2025

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

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Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Featured Scott M. Graffius’ Research

In the whirlwind world of social media, where a post can vanish into the digital ether faster than you can say "algorithm," one truth stands out like a timeless pin on a corkboard: not all content fades equally. Scott M. Graffius’ "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research dives deep into this dynamic, measuring the time it takes for a post to garner half its total engagement—likes, shares, comments, and beyond. Drawing from over 5 million posts and 225 podcasts across platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, X, Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and yes, Pinterest itself, the findings reveal stark contrasts. Snapchat snaps evaporate in 0 minutes (with exceptions), while Pinterest pins linger for a robust 3.88 months on average—over 100 times longer than many rivals. This isn't just data; it's a roadmap for creators and marketers navigating an ever-shifting landscape of user behaviors and platform tweaks. As global social media users hit 5.17 billion (as of January 2025), understanding these half-lives isn't optional. It's the key to amplifying your voice amid the noise.

What makes this update particularly exciting? It's the fresh lens on the social media platforms. Graffius’ methodology—aggregating diverse datasets from APIs, academic repositories, and more—ensures a representative snapshot, free from the pitfalls of anecdotal reports. And the visuals? They've evolved, too, with stylized periodic charts that turn cold stats into compelling stories. But a real thrill came last fall when two arms of the Pinterest empire turned the spotlight on this work, validating its real-world punch. In October 2024, Pinterest Inc.'s Business Blog dropped "Unlock the Full Potential of Pinterest with Marketing Mix Modeling," citing Graffius’ 2024 edition to underscore how Pinterest content outlasts the competition by over 100 times. It was a nod to strategic longevity, complete with a footnote linking back to my DOI-stamped research—a marketer's dream endorsement.

Then, in a delightfully novel twist, Pinterest Japan took it further in November 2024. Their Tokyo Office publication, "Pinterest’s Latest Marketing Strategies," wove Graffius’ analysis into a sleek, Japan-centric guide for businesses. Picture this: a sprawling horizontal red bargraph, translated into Japanese, defining half-life as "the period until half of the total engagement is achieved," hyperlinked straight to Graffius’ work. Pinterest Japan visualized the cross-platform comparisons, positioning Pinterest as the endurance champion for savvy strategists. This wasn't just a citation; it was a creative remix, blending global data with localized insights to empower Asian marketers. Fast-forward to today, and the buzz hasn't dimmed. Traffic to Graffius’ respective articles is surging, a testament to how timeless (pun intended) this topic remains.

As algorithms evolve and new platforms rise, Graffius’ commitment to annual updates ensures this research stays as relevant as your next post. Whether you're a podcaster eyeing 6.68 days of half-life or a pinner banking on months of momentum, these insights can transform your strategy. Dive into the full 2025 edition here, complete with visuals.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project/Program/Portfolio/PMO Management. And he’s a renowned expert on temporal patterns on social media networks and teamwork tradecraft (including “exotic team dynamics” involving human-AI teams). He’s a practitioner, consultant, researcher, thought leader, author (Agile Protocol, 2025; Agile Transformation, 2019; and Agile Scrum, 2016), and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Graffius has delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond. Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities engage him and feature his work. Examples include ACM, Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Lam Research, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, Technical University of Munich, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and many more. Explore https://www.scottgraffius.com to learn more.

About Graffius’ "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" Research

Graffius’ Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts research is renowned for its rigor, scale, and real-world relevance. Analyzing 5 million posts across multiple platforms, it reveals how content rises and fades in audience engagement. Cited by media, academics, and industry professionals alike, the study informs social media strategies, helps optimize engagement, and clarifies audience behavior patterns. By quantifying the half-life of posts across networks, it provides actionable guidance for content timing, planning, and long-term marketing impact. Its broad applicability makes it an essential resource for navigating today’s fast-moving digital landscape.

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A visual from 2025 edition of Graffius’ research is above and the details are here.

About Pinterest

Pinterest is a visual search and discovery platform where people find inspiration, curate ideas, and shop products—all in a positive place online. Headquartered in San Francisco, Pinterest launched in 2010 and has over half a billion monthly active users worldwide.

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Bibliography

This is the select bibliography. It lists the three publications referenced in this article.

Graffius, Scott M. (2024, October 10). Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/pinterest_inc_business_blog_features_graffius.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31296.55041.

Graffius, Scott M. (2024, December 19). Pinterest Japan Uses Graffius’ Research on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/pinterest-japan-uses-research-by-graffius.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35455.93606.

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 6). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2025. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lifespan-halflife-of-social-media-posts-update-for-2025.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.35085.65761.

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About Scott M. Graffius

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Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.

Additional details are here.

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.

The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

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Check out Scott’s books:

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, Scott M. (2025, October 8). Evergreen Echoes: How Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Spotlighted Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media Content. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/evergreen-echos-pinterest-inc-and-pinterest-japan-featured-scott-m-graffius.html.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

DOI: (coming soon)

Content Acknowledgements

This article uses limited excerpts from Pinterest Inc., attributed to Pinterest and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

Pinterest name, mark, and content are the property of Pinterest.

Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” is copyright © Scott M. Graffius.

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Top 5 Hashtags

#Pinterest
#HalfLife
#SocialMedia
#DigitalMarketing
#PinterestResearch

Post-Publication Notes

If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

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Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Research on the Half-Life Lifespan of Posts on Pinterest • Pinterest • Social Media Research • Marketing • Advertising

Introduction

1. AI (or tools) are only as effective as their design

2. Misaligned objectives are dangerous

3. Iteration and learning have limits

4. Risk and unintended consequences

5. Overreliance on tools

6. Creativity and innovation are key—but insufficient alone

The Big Picture

Conclusion

Bibliography

More

Additional Articles

About Scott M. Graffius

How to Cite This Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Content Acknowledgements

Top 10 Hashtags for This Article

Post-Publication Notes

Copyright

Introduction

Actionable Insights

Conclusion

Bibliography

About Scott M. Graffius

About the "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts"

About the Journal

More

Additional Articles

More About Scott M. Graffius

How to Cite This Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Content Acknowledgements

Top 5 Hashtags for This Article

Post-Publication Notes

Copyright

Introduction

A Clear Progression: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic AI

Goals, Roles, and Controls

Conclusion

Introduction

1. AI Reflects Human Flaws

2. Misaligned Goals Are Dangerous

3. AI Can be Hyper-Rational and Dangerous

4. Complexity Can Breed Unpredictability

5. Emotional Manipulation and Deception

6. Power Without Oversight is Dangerous

7. AI Amplifies Societal Fears

8. The Human Element Matters

9. Unhinged AI Often Challenges What It Means to Be Human

10. Storytelling Trends

Conclusion

Introduction

Three Forms of Advanced AIs

Agentic AI

Autonomous AI

Autopoietic AI

Conclusion