Remote-First Companies Have a Hidden AI Advantage

Use your remote muscle: document decisions, share openly, and plug AI into strong written‑culture workflows.

Sep 29, 2025 0m 20s

James LePage

Expert Insights

James LePage argues that there is an overlooked advantage in remote-first companies when implementing AI. It is a strong culture of written communication and systematic information sharing. He points out that its remote nature has necessitated robust communication channels, which now serve as rich data sources for AI.

James emphasizes that the extensive, written communications within remote teams can provide valuable, structured data for AI-assisted software development. Rather than being merely a byproduct of remote work, these communication channels can enhance a company's AI capabilities.

Listen to James explain:

How the culture of written communication and information sharing within remote companies can aid in AI development.
The practical value of having active, lively channels like Slack that can provide structured data for AI.
The advantage that longstanding remote-first companies might have in implementing AI into their workflows.

That is where automatic thrives and succeeds because it's built, it's, if you look at a company that's existed for 20 years remote, you're going to have systems where you share things. To everybody, or to groups, or to people or to teams... When I came into automatic, I was shocked at how much written communication existed, how active and lively slack channels were compared to some other companies.

— James LePage, Director of Engineering AI, Automattic

THE NEW DEFAULT angle

Here are actionable strategies for capitalizing on a remote work setting when implementing AI-assisted workflows:

Cultivate a culture of written communication: Regular updates of team channels with progress reports, decision-making processes, and potential roadblocks can create a rich database for AI to interpret and learn from.
Utilize existing communication channels: Platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams can become data sources for AI models.
Encourage active participation: Lively interactions on communication platforms enhance team dynamics and provide valuable, structured data for AI.
Learn from remote-first companies: Organizations that have been working remotely for a significant amount of time may already have effective practices in place that can be used by companies transitioning to AI-assisted workflows.