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The Jagged Frontier

/ðə ˈʤægɪd frʌnˈtɪə/ Term coined by Harvard Business School / Dell'Acqua et al. (2023).
Definition The uneven landscape of modern AI capabilities, where systems may perform at a superhuman level on complex creative tasks ("peaks") while failing at rudimentary logical tasks ("valleys"). This non-linear capability curve makes the AI an unpredictable tool, requiring specific modes of engagement to navigate safely.

Centaurs vs. Cyborgs

Research identifies two primary strategies for navigating this frontier:

The Navigational Advantage

Because the frontier is jagged (unpredictable), the Centaur approach risks failure—handing off a task that falls into a "valley." The Cyborg, by constantly monitoring and co-editing in the flow state, is better equipped to catch the AI before it falls, effectively smoothing the jagged edge through real-time correction.

Field Notes & Ephemera

Warning: The frontier moves. What is a peak today may be a valley in the next model update, or vice versa. The Cyborg must remain agnostic to the model's limitations and vigilant to its capability shifts.
Stratigraphy (Related Concepts)
Liminal Mind Meld Collaborative Flow Cognitive Cultivation Centaurs Cyborgs Human-AI Interaction

a liminal mind meld collaboration

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