Receptionist AI Design Pattern
An AI architecture pattern using a lightweight coordinator to route requests to specialized AI agents.
Also known as: Router Agent Pattern, Dispatcher AI Pattern
Category: Techniques
Tags: ai, design-patterns, architecture, multi-agent, llm, system-design
Explanation
The Receptionist AI Design Pattern is an architectural approach where a lightweight, generalist AI acts as a front-end 'receptionist' that receives all incoming requests and routes them to appropriate specialized AI agents based on the nature of the task.
Architecture:
1. Receptionist Agent: A lightweight AI that:
- Receives and interprets incoming requests
- Classifies the type of task or query
- Routes to the appropriate specialist agent
- Handles simple queries directly
- Manages conversation flow and handoffs
2. Specialist Agents: Domain-specific AI models optimized for:
- Specific tasks (coding, writing, analysis)
- Particular domains (legal, medical, technical)
- Certain interaction styles (formal, casual, detailed)
Benefits:
1. Cost Efficiency: Simple requests don't require expensive specialized models
2. Scalability: Easy to add new specialist agents without modifying the core system
3. Specialization: Each agent can be optimized for its specific domain
4. Flexibility: Different specialists can use different underlying models
5. Graceful Degradation: If a specialist is unavailable, the receptionist can provide basic assistance
Implementation Considerations:
- Clear routing criteria to minimize misrouting
- Smooth handoff protocols between agents
- Context preservation across agent transitions
- Fallback handling for ambiguous requests
This pattern mirrors how organizations use receptionists to efficiently route visitors and calls to appropriate departments, applying that organizational wisdom to AI system design.
Related Concepts
← Back to all concepts