#017: The TACO Framework: A No-Nonsense Guide to AI In The Studio

Last week, I listened to an episode of AI Daily Brief featuring Swami Chandrasekaran, Head of AI & Data Labs at KPMG.

The conversation was all about AI agents—how enterprises are thinking about them, where adoption is happening, and the challenges that come with it.

But the part that really stuck with me was Swami’s TACO framework: a simple, structured way to categorize different types of AI agents.

There’s a lot of hype around agentic AI at the moment. Some companies are rushing ahead, trying to deploy AI assistants everywhere, while others feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

The reality, though, is AI agents aren’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, they exist on a spectrum, from simple task-based automations to fully orchestrated workflows that manage entire business processes.

Rather than treating AI agents as one big, complex category, the TACO framework breaks them down into four practical types: Taskers, Automators, Collaborators, and Orchestrators, each solving different problems.

In this issue, we’ll explore what each of these categories means and, more importantly, how they apply to creative operations and studio workflows.

Let’s dive in.

Breaking Down The TACO Framework

Instead of viewing AI as an all-or-nothing leap, The TACO framework helps teams implement automation where it makes the most sense. But knowing the framework is only part of the equation—what matters is how teams apply it in real-world scenarios.

Studios don’t need to overhaul everything at once. The key is integrating AI naturally into existing workflows. Some teams will begin with Taskers to automate small, repetitive tasks, while others may jump straight to Automators or Collaborators.

For most, Taskers provide the easiest and most immediate wins.

Taskers

Taskers are the simplest kind of AI agents. They take care of one well-defined job at a time—no complex reasoning, no long-term memory, just executing a single task and moving on. Because they’re so focused, they’re quick to implement and easy to manage. You set them up, they do their thing, and that’s it.

For most teams, Taskers are the easiest way to start using AI in a meaningful way. Studios are full of small, repetitive tasks that slow things down without adding creative value like renaming files, tagging assets, or moving images from one system to another. These are perfect candidates for Taskers because they’re simple, well-defined, and easy to automate.

Automators

Automators take AI beyond isolated tasks, linking multiple steps into a process that runs independently. Instead of handling one-off actions, these agents move information between systems, ensuring work progresses without constant manual input. They’re more powerful than Taskers, but because they integrate across tools and datasets, they require careful setup to avoid bottlenecks.

Creative production is filled with handoffs—assets moving between teams, tools, and approval stages, often slowed down by unnecessary manual work. Automators streamline these transitions, reducing friction and keeping projects moving without someone needing to oversee every workflow step.

Whether routing images through structured reviews, syncing metadata across platforms, or handling the back-and-forth of approvals, Automators eliminate busywork so teams can focus on higher-value creative decisions.

But AI can do more than move things along—it can actively assist teams in making better choices.

That’s where Collaborators come in.

Collaborators

This is where AI starts working with humans instead of just executing commands. Here, collaborators assist in decision-making, suggest improvements, and adjust based on feedback.

The key difference? Unlike Taskers and Automators, which focus on efficiency, Collaborators assist in decision-making and learn from human input to enhance creative work. These agents work alongside teams, assisting with decision-making and adapting to human input.

For example, an AI-assisted selection tool could surface the best images based on brand guidelines, helping photographers and editors spend less time sorting and more time creating.

Or, an AI-powered review assistant could help retouchers maintain consistency across a high-volume production pipeline. Instead of replacing creative expertise, Collaborators act as an extra set of eyes, helping teams work smarter.

Orchestrators

At the highest level, Orchestrators don’t just complete tasks or automate workflows; they coordinate entire systems. These agents bring everything together, managing dependencies, optimizing decision-making, and ensuring that different processes align.

The real value of the TACO framework isn’t just in breaking down what AI agents can do but helping brands figure out where they fit into existing workflows. And for creative teams, that’s the big question: What does this mean for how we work today?

Right now, few studios are operating at the Orchestrator level, but that’s where AI is heading. Imagine an intelligent system that doesn’t just assist with production but manages it: assigning tasks, optimizing schedules, and anticipating roadblocks before they happen.

Instead of just automating steps, Orchestrators create a seamless ecosystem, ensuring everything from asset creation to post-production to final delivery happens without unnecessary delays.

Few studios are currently working at this level, but the gap is closing fast. The studios that experiment with AI today will be the ones shaping the Orchestrator-driven workflows of tomorrow.

AI That Works for You

AI isn’t some far-off future. It’s already here, transforming creative work in ways big and small.

And the best part? You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. The TACO framework makes it clear: AI isn’t an all-or-nothing approach. It’s a set of tools that fit where you need them most.

Some of the most impactful AI agents aren’t the ones reinventing workflows from the ground up—they’re the ones that free up your team’s time for the work that truly matters.

The Tasker that renames files so you don’t have to. The Automator that moves assets through approvals without the usual back-and-forth. The Collaborator that helps spot inconsistencies before they become problems. Every small step forward adds up.

The studios that embrace AI in practical, meaningful ways today will be the ones leading the creative industry tomorrow. So, don’t wait for the perfect strategy. Start. Because the studios that take action now are the ones shaping what’s next.