IA•AI (Iowa Artificial Intelligence) - November 2026 - Hand-Flying to Autopilot (and Back): Building an Agentic Software Factory

This month's program

AI is rapidly changing how software gets built. But how do you move from writing code yourself to having AI agents handle much of the work—and how do you know when to take back control?

For our November IA•AI meetup, we're welcoming Wesley Beary, who will share his team's real-world journey from writing nearly everything by hand to working almost entirely with agentic coding.

The transition wasn't a straight line. Wesley's team started with conversational AI, identified what worked, and gradually connected those processes into what they now call a software factory.

But more automation isn't always better.

Using the analogy of a pilot moving between hand-flying and autopilot, Wesley will explore how to choose the right level of automation, recognize when things are going wrong, and maintain human oversight—even when AI-generated work looks convincing.

What We'll Explore

From Hand-Flying to Autopilot: Choosing the right level of AI automation for the task.

Building a Software Factory: How Wesley's team gradually developed and connected agentic workflows.

The Human Side: How the team's work changed, lessons from failures, and the importance of keeping skills sharp.

Better Feedback Loops: How to catch problems sooner and turn each experience into a better process.

Practical Takeaways: Ideas to try in your own work, followed by open Q&A and group discussion.

While we'll get into some technical details, you don't need to be a software developer to benefit. Many of the lessons about automation, human judgment, process improvement, and working effectively with AI apply across businesses and professions.

As always, IA•AI is about learning together. Bring your questions, experiences, and curiosity!

About Our Speaker

Wesley Beary builds accessible, delightful tools for developers and the AI agents that support them.

Over 18+ years, his work has included creating the open-source Ruby libraries fog and excon, designing Heroku's API and CLI conventions, and co-founding Anchor, which he helped lead to acquisition. Today, he focuses on building secure, policy-driven agentic tooling.

A hacker at heart, Wesley enjoys creating tools that people want to use, making them easier to use well, and building communities that help people grow alongside technology.

Join us November 17 for another practical IA•AI conversation about what happens when AI moves from assisting our work to increasingly doing the work—and why knowing when to take back control matters.

About This Group

IA•AI (Iowa Artificial Intelligence) is a community of Eastern Iowa business professionals exploring the opportunities, challenges, and practical applications of AI. We bring together leaders, entrepreneurs, and technologists to share knowledge, test tools, and build meaningful connections around how AI is reshaping business and our local communities.

Whether you’re just curious about AI or already using it in your work, IA•AI is your local hub to learn, collaborate, and lead in this new era of technology.