Over the last 15 years, SAFe has become the operating model of choice for more than 20,000 enterprises and government agencies and over 2 million practitioners navigating the complexities of product and systems development at scale. One of the great privileges of my role is spending time with customers and partners, hearing firsthand how SAFe has helped them solve real business problems by applying Lean and Agile at scale.
Of course, alongside those success stories, we are also aware that the Framework must continually evolve if it is to help organizations succeed into the future. June 16th marked such an evolution. In my mind, the biggest evolution to date, as we announced and unveiled, AI-Native SAFe. An operating model built for the Age of AI.
Rather than merely layering AI capabilities onto the existing SAFe Framework, this new version is a reinvention. Built on years of research, proven processes, and emerging ways of working, AI-Native SAFe integrates the specific practices and governance required in the AI era, resulting in an approach that is recognizable to existing SAFe users yet fundamentally enhanced to help you meet the unique challenges of becoming an AI-Native enterprise and ensure a return on your investments in AI.
AI-Native SAFe recognizes that the bottleneck has moved. The challenge for organizations is no longer whether they can build something in the time available. Rather, it is keeping up with the need to validate whether what they are building is safe, secure, and valuable. AI-Native SAFe enables enterprises to incorporate AI into Lean and Agile practices, puts outcomes at the center of everything, and provides governance, structure, and proven methods to make sure faster also means better.
A Clear Path for Organizations Already Using SAFe
Alongside the release of AI-Native SAFe, we are making another important commitment: our commitment to continue supporting and evolving the Core SAFe operating model. When you navigate to the Framework site, you will see both operating models available.
Core SAFe remains the foundation for successful enterprise agility. The principles, practices, and governance that have helped many organizations improve alignment, execution, and value delivery remain as relevant as ever. For many organizations, Core SAFe continues to provide the right operating model for their current needs.
This release does not replace Core SAFe. It builds on the Lean, Agile, and SAFe investments that enterprises have made over the past decade. It then shows how those practices evolve when AI changes the speed of learning, delivery, and decision-making. AI-Native SAFe is best seen as a journey, not a restart, with a clear transition path from where you are today.
AI-Native SAFe Early Access
On June 16, we unveiled the AI-Native SAFe Big Picture through a new virtual events series. If you missed the first AI-Native SAFe event, watch the recording below and get an early look at how enterprises can evolve into AI-native organizations. In this virtual event, I reflected on the AI imperative, the research supporting the need for a Framework to help organizations realize value, and the shifts to Lean and Agile ways of working that AI enables. With this background, I then walked through all the major changes and evolutions in AI-Native SAFe.
This virtual event series runs over the next 12 weeks and culminates in a full reveal at the SAFe Summit San Diego on September 14-18, where the complete vision comes together through deeper learning, practical application, and real-world customer experiences.
New guidance will follow every two weeks. We chose this incremental path because AI changes faster than any single, one-time release can match. Early Access lets the community learn from the model now. It also gives us time to validate and refine the guidance with our customers and partners. To join the AI-Native SAFe launch webinar series, visit our registration page.
For another perspective on AI-Native SAFe, our official launch announcement explores the market shifts, enterprise challenges, and operating model innovations that shaped this evolution.
We are excited to be on this journey with you and build the future together.
Stay SAFe,
Andrew Sales, SAFe Chief Methodologist