I once watched Levi’s jeans being made by hand on a factory floor. Today the company is gearing up to run its global operations with an AI super-agent.

Years ago I toured the old Levi’s factory near where I live now, and I can still picture it vividly in my mind.

Huge stacks of denim being sliced clean through with industrial cutters.

Rows of workers hand-stitching the famous arcuate seams.

The famous jeans made right there, start to finish.

That factory closed in 2004.

So did every other North American Levi’s plant.

Production moved to Mexico, and the craft I watched vanished almost overnight.

Fast forward to today, and Levi Strauss & Co. is preparing for something that feels just as transformational.

The company is building an agentic AI “super-agent” with Microsoft, a layer that coordinates fleets of specialized sub-agents across IT, HR, operations, and more.

It will automate workflows, simplify complex processes, and reshape how the entire company runs.

Early 2026 (the next few months) is the global rollout target.

I think about that contrast a lot:
the denim cutters and the stitchers … and now the AI orchestrators.

It’s so easy to feel nostalgic for what we’ve lost.

But as product makers, we need to pay attention to what’s being gained: faster insights, tighter cycles, more responsive operations, and a shift toward direct-to-consumer strength.

The tools are changing.

The work is changing.

The product, and how we buy it, is gonna change too.

But the opportunity (building things people truly value) stays the same.

Agree or disagree? Hit reply and let me know!

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