AI is everywhere. In the Agile space, it’s showing up in team Retrospectives, Sprint Planning, backlog refinement, and even facilitation prompts. But the question remains—is it hype, or is it help?
After spending months testing, prodding, and playing with various AI tools, I’ve come to a simple conclusion: AI is powerful—but only if used with purpose.
Like many others, I started exploring AI with curiosity. I wanted to know how it could support Agile teams, Scrum Masters, and coaches in their everyday work. What I found was a mixed bag.
On the one hand, AI tools can accelerate work. I’ve seen AI help with:
- Drafting sprint goals and acceptance criteria
- Generating retrospective questions and facilitation prompts
- Making sense of team feedback and performance signals
- Summarizing complex discussions and notes
Supporting visual thinking and content creation. But here’s the catch: it’s very easy to fall down the rabbit hole.
There were times when I felt like a kid with a new toy—testing every button, exploring every prompt, discovering new capabilities, and before I knew it, half a day was gone. Was it useful? Sometimes. Was it fun? Definitely. Was it always efficient? Not really.
Here’s my big takeaway:
AI is an assistant, not a strategy. If you’re not clear about what you want it to help with, it can quickly become a distraction instead of a productivity boost.
In Agile teams, where focus, flow, and clarity are crucial, AI can offer incredible support—but only when we stay intentional. Want AI to be your co-pilot, not your detour? Start with a clear goal. Be specific about the outcome you want. And don’t lose yourself in the novelty of the tool.
So, is AI hype or help? It’s both.
And the difference depends on how you choose to use it.
Curious about how AI can empower your Agile practice?
Join our hands-on AI for Scrum Masters workshop—designed not just for Scrum Masters but also for Agile Coaches who want to bring AI into their facilitation, decision-making, and team support.
