AI tools like ChatGPT are used for everything from answering quick questions to managing complex workflows, and understanding how to best use these tools can make a significant difference. The key isn’t just knowing what AI can do, but knowing how to match the right level of AI capability to the right task.

Most people currently use AI at the most basic level, which works well for many situations—yet there are opportunities to level up as needs evolve. Understanding the levels of sophistication, from basic to fully autonomous, is essential to leveraging AI effectively.

In today’s email:

• AI Capability Framework: The 6 Criteria Defining AI Levels of Sophistication and Automation

• Applying the Framework: A Quick Practical Guide

As we dive into the levels of AI sophistication, identify at what level you play. We challenge you to level up!

AI Capability Framework

The 6 Criteria Defining AI Levels of Sophistication and Automation

We developed this framework to help people understand how AI sophistication progresses across multiple levels, from Level 0 (Supercharged Google) to Level n+1 (Autonomous Digital Twin).

Our framework showcases AI functionality across these levels, revealing how AI can evolve from a basic information assistant to a proactive, autonomous partner capable of managing complex workflows and predicting needs.

Our focus on Level 3 and Level 4 AI Assistants brings a transformative solution to clients, enabling AI that not only integrates seamlessly with workflows but also coordinates tasks across roles, boosting productivity and fostering collaboration.

Each level in this framework demonstrates how AI advances from reactive Q&A tasks to proactive support and strategic decision-making, providing a clear guide for selecting the right AI capabilities based on specific needs.

Let’s dive into the framework and see what each level offers, and when it’s best to use it.

Level 0: Supercharged Google

This level uses AI as a quick Q&A tool, like an advanced search engine that answers direct questions. 

It is ideal for fast, one-off tasks.

• How I use AI at this level:

  • Simple Queries: “Please explain what a Digital Twin is?” or “What’s the weather forecast in Cape Town?”

  • Quick Drafting: Most people use it for quick drafting like “Write a short thank-you email.”, but I prefer to write quick emails myself (to keep my brain working).

• Use Case: Ideal for simple questions or tasks without follow-up, providing a conversational alternative to search engines.

• Initial Setup: None required.

• When to Level Up: If you need follow-up questions, remember information between interactions, or get more creative, it’s time for Level 1.

Level 1: AI Collaborator

In Level 1, AI acts as a conversational assistant that remembers the flow within a session, allowing for richer interaction. You work with ChatGPT.

This level is best for creative collaboration. It works well for tasks needing refining or idea generation, like drafting content or brainstorming.

• How I use AI at this level:

  • I often just open ChatGPT and then start exploring an idea. And I can easily spend an hour or two having a conversation with my "trusted colleague".

  • Content Refinement: “Rewrite this paragraph to sound more professional” or “Help me express the following in a simpler way”

  • Idea Generation: I will share a blog post (I train ChatGPT on my content) and ask it for potential Blog Post names. I will tell it what I want to achieve.

  • Soundboard: I will share an idea I have, and then ask ChatGPT to help me think through the idea.

• Use Case: Great for tasks that require iterative refinement or discussion, such as drafting, brainstorming, or collaborating on creative work.

• Initial Setup: None, but session-based memory adds depth.

• When to Level Up: If your tasks require remembering details between sessions or consistent role-based assistance, move to Level 2.

Level 2: AI Bot

At Level 2, ChatGPT acts as task-specific AI with customizable instructions. Here, you create a tailored bot, like a “Sales Assistant” or “Support Bot,” for consistency.

This means you build an AI Bot. I like using Chipp.ai (it is free) or setting up a Custom GPT in ChatGPT. You pre-populate the instructions (almost like programming, but just with plain English), and then run the bot over and over again.

You set up your bot for certain roles/tasks, like drafting client proposals or handling FAQs, and you give it clear instructions on how you want it to respond. This way you will gain consistency and specialised assistance, and you SAVE TIME, because you don't need to give the same info every time you start a new chat.

• How I use AI at this level:

  • Analyse Risks: I have a Bot that helps me analyse a startups risk and run a Pre-Mortem.

  • Refine a Startup Idea: I have a bot that helps my startups think through their new business ideas, and identify strengths and weaknesses or additional opportunities. This bot also helps them identify assumptions.

  • Specialised Knowledge: I have a last-mile AI Bot that hels me draft branded content with precise language.

  • Investment Analysis Bot: Capture your process to analyse Financial Results of publicly listed companies - you can actually have a conversation with the document!

  • The opportunities are endless!

• Use Case: This level is suited to repetitive, specialized tasks that benefit from consistent responses. Perfect for ongoing work in sales, customer service, or content creation.

• Initial Setup: A one-time setup where you input role-specific instructions, almost like plain-language programming.

• When to Level Up: If your work requires integration with tools like email or scheduling to support more complex workflows, consider Level 3.

Level 3: AI Assistant

This level brings ChatGPT’s assistance to workflows by integrating it with external tools like Google Calendar or Gmail, allowing for more streamlined, multi-functional task management.

This Level is where the power of AI really starts to shine, and where I start to have fun. And at this level, I also 10X my productivity and output. 

Thundamental plays at this level: building custom AI Assistants for executives and teams. Ask for a demo!

• How I use AI at this level:

  • Reactive To-do list: An on-the-go to-do list where I use voice notes to capture tasks and details (This is one of my favourites)

  • Capturing my ideas and thoughts: I have an AI Assistant that I speak to (Voice Notes) that captures and organises my thoughts, and it gets sent to Google Sheets and Google Docs. 

  • Workflow Automation: Combining ChatGPT and automation and integration tools like Zapier and Make.

  • Automated Reporting AI Tools (Winner!): Take a transcript and turn it into your report (we have an AI Assistant for that) - saves me around 15 minutes per report (after every mentorship session my assistant writes the report and I check, refine and upload).

  • Refining my Ideas: I am reading and learning a lot and I will use a Soundboarding AI Assistant to help me think through and refine the idea. Figuring out my AI Capability Framework: The AI Capability Framework: Six Levels of AI Power and Automation still took me a lot of time, but in the past, it would have taken me more than a month because of rewriting and editing and having to do everything manually. Now I let AI do the heavy lifting and I do the strategic thinking. 

  • Scheduling & Reminders: Setting up meeting reminders, categorizing incoming emails, or managing calendar events (I could be better here)

• Use Case: Ideal for professionals who manage multiple schedules or workflows, Level 3 excels at automating administrative tasks, making it particularly useful for team leads and project managers.

• Initial Setup: Requires setup for workflow context and integration with basic apps. This takes time. I start with designing the workflow and AI Assistant on paper and then write the initial prompts and code before I get ChatGPT to help me refine it.

• When to Level Up: If you need cross-functional coordination or interconnected assistants, Level 4 enables a network of AI agents that collaborate.

Level 4: AI Agents (Interconnected Web of  AI Assistants)

At Level 4, ChatGPT agents operate together as a network, sharing context and collaborating on interdependent tasks. This level supports workflows requiring coordination across multiple roles, offering a virtual team of assistants.

Data is King here: Garbage in, garbage out.

• How I use AI at this level (only starting at this level, but it is blowing my mind):

  • Cross-Functional Ideation: My "Learning Agent" works with my "Ideas Capturing Agent" to help me process high volumes of information in much shorter periods.

    Other examples:

  • Cross-Functional Coordination: A “Marketing Agent” works with a “Project Management Agent” to align deadlines and coordinate task completion.

  • Task Dependencies: Overseeing timelines, updating project statuses, and managing multi-step tasks with interrelated responsibilities.

• Use Case: Ideal for teams managing large projects with shared responsibilities, especially where timelines and tasks overlap.

• Initial Setup: Advanced setup to enable context-sharing and multi-agent communication.  And you need great DATA.

• When to Level Up: If your tasks need predictive insights or proactive suggestions, Level n provides a predictive AI copilot that anticipates your needs.

I call the next level Level n because it doesn't fully exist yet, and I'm not quite sure how many steps are between Level 4 and this predictive, proactive Super Assistant (Level n).

Level n: AI Copilot (Super Assistant)

Level n adds a predictive layer, with ChatGPT actively recognizing patterns, flagging productivity bottlenecks, and suggesting process improvements. Acting as a “copilot,” it becomes a proactive partner rather than a purely reactive assistant.

This is where I am trying to "predict the future"- I am honestly not quite sure what it will look like, but know one thing... it is coming (or it is already here in a beta version somewhere). Watch this space...

• Examples :

  • Productivity Insights: Highlighting tasks that often cause delays or suggesting more efficient scheduling.

  • Proactive Optimisation: Recommending task reorganisation or suggesting optimal meeting times based on usage patterns.

• Use Case: Perfect for business owners or managers overseeing complex, high-stakes projects, where proactive insights can lead to improved efficiency.

• Initial Setup: Detailed setup to allow for prompts that recognise and act on patterns. 

• Reason to Level Up: For strategic scenario modelling and autonomous task management, Level n+1 enables ChatGPT to function as a Digital Twin with real-time adaptability and decision-making capabilities.

Level n+1: Digital Twin

‘Fully Autonomous AI’
The Digital Twin represents the pinnacle of AI’s capabilities—a fully autonomous AI that mirrors your decision-making style and manages tasks independently. With Level 6, your AI replica can anticipate, simulate outcomes, and execute tasks without direct oversight.

Well, Level n+1 is what we see in those crazy Sci-Fi movies. And Level n+x is where the bots become smarter than humans.

This is basically a copy of you. Exciting, or scary?

• Examples:

  • Real-Time Task Management: Dynamically adjusting schedules, setting priorities based on real-time data, and autonomously managing complex workflows.

  • Decision Simulation: Offering scenario analyses for strategic choices, helping executives make informed decisions by exploring potential outcomes.

• Use Case: Ideal for executives managing large, evolving projects where real-time adaptability and strategic foresight are essential.

• Initial Setup: I'm honestly not quite sure. A highly sophisticated setup that will vary depending on tasks and workflows.

• Future Potential: This level is the future frontier of AI—powerful, predictive, and autonomous.

The AI Capability Framework offers a roadmap for AI progression—from Level 0 (Supercharged Google) to Level n+1 (Digital Twin). By understanding each level’s strengths, you can match AI capabilities to your specific needs, enhancing productivity and creative potential along the way.

Ready to Elevate Your AI Game?

If you’re interested in exploring Level 3 or 4 assistants to streamline workflows, contact us to learn how we can help design customized AI solutions. Let’s empower your workflows and make AI a productive, proactive part of your daily work!