OpenAI's Five Levels of “Super AI” (AGI that Exceeds Human Capabilities)
OpenAI is reportedly tracking its progress towards building artificial general intelligence (AGI) — an AI that can outperform humans at most tasks — and the company is using five levels to measure its progress towards its end goal.
According to Bloomberg, OpenAI believes its technology is approaching the second of five stages on the road to artificial general intelligence. Anna Galotti, co-chair of the International Coaching Federation's Special Task Force on AI and Coaching, called this the “Super AI” level in a post shared on LinkedIn, and sees potential for entrepreneurs, coaches, and consultants.
Axios noted that AI experts are divided on whether “today's large-scale language models, which are good at generating text and images, can develop a broader understanding of the world and adapt flexibly to new information and situations.” Differing opinions mean blind spots, which lead to opportunities.
Expert opinions aside, how far is your business with AI? How much is in the pipeline, and what are you doing with it right now? Here are five steps to get you started and what each one means for you.
Five steps to artificial general intelligence: OpenAI's metrics
Level 1: Conversational AI
At the current stage of AI, Level 1, computers can interact with humans in conversational language. Imagine customer service support agents, AI coaches, ChatGPT, Claude talking to your team and helping you create social media content. Hopefully, you’re working on something at this level right now.
Since ChatGPT launched in November 2022, it has signed up 180.5 million users, many of whom are entrepreneurs. 3 million developers are building tools using OpenAI's APIs, and a ChatGPT consultant is one of the highest-paid positions in AI. This is just the beginning.
Level 2: Inference AI
It appears that in the near future, systems (called “reasoners”) will be able to perform basic problem-solving tasks comparable to PhD-level educated humans, without access to the tools.
According to the Hacker News forum, “The leap from Level 1 to Level 2 is significant because it involves moving from basic, limited capabilities to more comprehensive, human-like proficiency.” This leap opens up possibilities and opportunities for everyone in business. But we're not there yet.
Level 3: Autonomous AI
At Level 3, AI systems called “agents” can operate autonomously on your behalf for several days. Imagine having an agent around your company while you're on vacation. Right now, automation doesn't always work; it needs monitoring. Technology is moving toward a reality where automation rarely works, and when it does break, it repairs itself automatically without human intervention.
Like a team member, but at a fraction of the cost. Like a supplier, but operating entirely according to rules and processes, without deviation. How much more can your business achieve with Level 3 of AI?
Level 4: AI Innovation
These AI systems, called “Innovators,” can develop innovations on their own. They don’t just execute processes, they improve them. They don’t just follow the rules and predict the next word, they think critically about how to do a better job or achieve a goal in a more effective or efficient way.
How many people in your company are actively thinking about how to improve right now? Why not enlist a little help from an AI tool that understands your objectives and gives you ideas? Currently, you can tell ChatGPT to scale your business 10x, but it won't do it on its own initiative. This will mean a huge leap in the capabilities and applications of AI.
Level 5: Organizational AI
The final stage of this Super AI, called “Organization,” involves an artificial intelligence that can run the work of an entire organization. Every person that exists today, every function that is performed, will be performed by agents that work together, make improvements, and do everything that needs to be done without human eyes.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman predicts we'll reach Level 5 within 10 years, but some industry insiders believe it could take 50. While the actual timeline is unknown, the rapid pace of AI development is undeniable.
Achieving Artificial General Intelligence: OpenAI's Five-Step Process
The more we learn and understand how AI can benefit our business, the more we can accomplish with fewer resources at each stage. By deploying the first steps now, we'll be set up for success as the technology advances.
Don't think this doesn't apply to you. In the future, there will be those who act now and those who think they can catch up but end up falling behind. From conversational to reasoning, to autonomous, transformative, and organizational AI, each will have a vastly different impact on how we run our businesses and lives.
