OpenAI, a leading force in the pursuit of advanced artificial intelligence (AI), has introduced a five-tier system to track its progress towards developing AI that surpasses human capabilities. This system, unveiled to employees during an all-hands meeting, offers a clearer picture of the company’s approach to AI safety and its vision for the future of AI. The spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the existence of this classification system, which spans from the current conversational AI (Level 1) to advanced AI systems capable of managing entire organizations (Level 5).
OpenAI, widely recognized for its contributions to the development of powerful AI systems, intends to share these levels with investors and other external stakeholders. Currently, OpenAI places itself at the first level, but on the cusp of the second, known as ‘Reasoners.’ This stage signifies AI systems equipped with basic problem-solving skills akin to a human with a doctorate degree, but without access to additional tools.
During the same meeting, OpenAI’s leadership presented a research project showcasing its AI’s new capabilities that demonstrate human-like reasoning. Bloomberg, citing an anonymous insider, reported that OpenAI routinely tests new functionalities internally, a standard practice within the AI industry.
OpenAI’s long-term goal has been to create Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which involves developing computers capable of outperforming humans across most tasks. While AGI does not yet exist, CEO Sam Altman remains optimistic about its realization within this decade.
The criteria for achieving AGI have been a topic of discussion among AI researchers. In November 2023, researchers at a leading institution proposed a five-level framework for AI, encompassing stages such as ‘expert’ and ‘superhuman,’ similar to the system used for self-driving cars in the automotive industry.
OpenAI’s newly introduced levels also feature five ascending stages leading towards AGI. The third level, ‘Agents,’ refers to AI systems capable of executing tasks over several days on behalf of users. The fourth level encompasses AI that can generate new innovations, and the highest level, ‘Organizations,’ signifies AI systems capable of operating autonomously within an organization.
These tiers were developed by OpenAI’s leadership and are still considered a work in progress. The company aims to gather feedback from employees, investors, and its board to refine the levels further. OpenAI’s five-tier system provides a roadmap for its ambitious journey towards creating truly intelligent AI systems.
