Amplify the Expert: A Philosophy for Building Enterprise RAG

Enterprise Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems should be designed to amplify domain experts rather than attempting to replace them. This philosophy advocates for building systems that codify the existing workflows of experts, such as using keyword searches and document structure, over relying on opaque vector-based methods. This approach fosters the necessary trust and auditability for adoption in professional settings like law and finance. The author draws a parallel to the previous enterprise ML wave, arguing that domain-specific solutions anchored in existing expertise succeed where generic approaches fail. This architectural stance is most effective when the document context is known, experts are accessible, and the goal is amplification.