# What Creators Actually Need from Agentic Creator OS

> Research-backed requirements for building the best creator operating system.

## The Creator's Problem

Creators are drowning in tools, not lacking them:
- 15+ AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, Suno, Runway...)
- Fragmented workflows (write here, edit there, publish somewhere else)
- Context loss (every session starts from zero)
- No system (just reactive tool-hopping)

**The gap**: Creators don't need another tool. They need an **operating system** that:
1. Remembers who they are across sessions
2. Knows their projects, preferences, and workflows
3. Automates the boring stuff
4. Amplifies their unique voice, not replaces it

---

## The 5 Core Needs

### 1. Personal Jarvis (Not Generic Assistant)

**What they say**: "I want my own AI that knows me"

**What they mean**:
- Remember my brand voice, style, and preferences
- Know my projects without re-explaining
- Anticipate what I need next
- Feel like a creative partner, not a search engine

**ACOS Solution**:
- CLAUDE.md context files per project
- Persistent skill activation based on context
- Instance configurations (frankx, demo, etc.)
- Cross-session memory via MCP database

### 2. Pre-Built Workflows (Not Infrastructure)

**What they say**: "I want to create, not configure"

**What they mean**:
- Don't make me build pipelines from scratch
- Give me battle-tested workflows I can customize
- Handle the boring parts automatically
- Let me focus on the creative decisions

**ACOS Solution**:
- `/factory` - Full content pipeline (research → publish → distribute)
- `/content-strategy` - Strategic content planning
- `/daily-ops` - Morning routine automation
- `/social-generate` - Platform-optimized social content

### 3. Multi-Format Creation (Not Single-Purpose)

**What they say**: "I create in many formats"

**What they mean**:
- Blog posts, social content, newsletters, videos
- Music, podcasts, courses, ebooks
- One idea → many formats
- Consistent voice across platforms

**ACOS Solution**:
- Content repurposing workflows
- Template library per format
- Brand voice consistency checks
- Platform-specific optimization

### 4. Simple Start → Advanced Later (Progressive Disclosure)

**What they say**: "I'm overwhelmed by AI complexity"

**What they mean**:
- Don't dump 100 features on me day one
- Let me start simple and grow
- Surface complexity only when I need it
- Make the 80% use case dead simple

**ACOS Solution**:
- 3-tier skill loading (metadata → instructions → resources)
- Auto-activation based on keywords
- Guided workflows with decisions at each step
- `--minimal` install option for beginners

### 5. Community Patterns (Not Isolation)

**What they say**: "What are other creators doing?"

**What they mean**:
- Share successful workflows
- Learn from others' setups
- Contribute back my patterns
- Not reinvent everything alone

**ACOS Solution**:
- Shareable skill files
- GitHub-synced patterns
- `acos-enhance` pulls from best repos
- Open source community contributions

---

## Creator Segments & Their Priorities

### Segment A: The Overwhelmed Creator
- **Profile**: Creates content but drowns in tools
- **Primary Need**: Simple, unified system
- **Entry Point**: `/factory` workflow for blog posts
- **Success Metric**: First published post within 30 mins

### Segment B: The Technical Creator
- **Profile**: Developers who also create content
- **Primary Need**: Extensibility and customization
- **Entry Point**: MCP servers and custom skills
- **Success Metric**: Custom skill created and shared

### Segment C: The Agency/Team
- **Profile**: Multiple creators, shared workflows
- **Primary Need**: Consistency and collaboration
- **Entry Point**: Instances and brand configurations
- **Success Metric**: Team onboarded with shared context

### Segment D: The Solo Founder
- **Profile**: Building a creator business alone
- **Primary Need**: Automation and scale
- **Entry Point**: Full system with all departments
- **Success Metric**: 10x content output without burnout

---

## Implementation Priorities

### Phase 1: Core Experience (Now)
- [x] Install script that works in 30 seconds
- [x] `/factory` workflow for content creation
- [x] Brand voice preservation
- [x] Basic MCP integration

### Phase 2: Workflows (Next)
- [ ] `/music-create` for Suno integration
- [ ] `/video-script` for video creators
- [ ] `/newsletter-draft` for email creators
- [ ] `/course-outline` for educators

### Phase 3: Intelligence (Later)
- [ ] Cross-project learning
- [ ] Predictive skill activation
- [ ] Analytics and insights
- [ ] Custom agent training

### Phase 4: Community (Future)
- [ ] Skill marketplace
- [ ] Workflow sharing
- [ ] Success templates
- [ ] Creator network

---

## Success Metrics

| Metric | Target | Why It Matters |
|--------|--------|----------------|
| Time to First Output | <30 min | Proves immediate value |
| Weekly Active Skills | 5+ | Shows depth of adoption |
| Content Pieces/Week | 3x increase | Measures productivity lift |
| Context Retention | 90% accuracy | Validates "knows me" feeling |
| Workflow Completion | 95% | Proves reliability |

---

## Design Principles

### 1. Creator-First, Not AI-First
Technology serves creative expression, not the reverse.

### 2. Amplify Voice, Don't Replace It
AI should make your content MORE you, not less.

### 3. Simple by Default, Powerful When Needed
The 80% case should be dead simple.

### 4. Open Source, Community-Driven
Patterns improve when shared.

### 5. Sustainable Productivity
10x output without 10x effort or burnout.

---

## Competitive Landscape

| System | Strength | Weakness | ACOS Advantage |
|--------|----------|----------|----------------|
| Raw Claude Code | Powerful | No structure | Pre-built creator workflows |
| Cursor/Windsurf | Fast coding | Dev-only focus | Creator-specific skills |
| Custom GPTs | Easy setup | No memory | Persistent context |
| n8n/Make | Automation | Not AI-native | AI-first design |
| Notion AI | Integrated | Generic | Creator specialization |

---

## References

Research sources:
- [anthropics/skills](https://github.com/anthropics/skills) - Official skill format
- [wshobson/agents](https://github.com/wshobson/agents) - 108 agent patterns
- [openskills](https://github.com/numman-ali/openskills) - Universal loader
- Creator interviews (Frank's audience feedback)
- AI agent framework benchmarks (LangGraph fastest)

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*This document guides all ACOS development decisions.*
