Your org chart isn’t broken. But it may be designed for a world that’s disappearing.
OpenAI has mapped out 5 levels of AI evolution, from chatbots to organizations.
Below is a comic strip explainer I built with AI, from chatbot to organization. Versions of AI are already working at Level 3. Many leaders haven’t grasped how close this is to redefining workflows.
Here are the five levels according to OpenAI:
- ► Level 1 – Chatbot: Models like GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and GPT-4o that excel at real-time conversation, answering questions, summarizing text, and handling a wide range of everyday tasks across text, images, and audio.
- ► Level 2 – Reasoner: Models such as o3 and o4-mini that go beyond chatting. They analyze, problem-solve, and provide expert advice, tackling complex math, coding, and reasoning tasks like a consultant.
- ► Level 3 – Agent: Emerging tools like Operator and Deep Research that can autonomously plan, act, and complete tasks for you like booking travel or writing comprehensive reports.
- ► Level 4 – Innovator: Not widely available yet, but these will be creative, proactive AI partners that help invent new ideas and solutions.
- ► Level 5 – Organization: These future AI systems could help coordinate the operations of departments or businesses, working with people to streamline workflows, support decision-making, and improve productivity at scale.
I covered the implications of this shift in my latest newsletter: AI is Breaking Down Silos: Moving from Org Charts to Work Charts.
The capabilities are arriving faster than most orgs can respond. Don’t wait for Level 5 to rethink how work gets done. Begin with the basics:
- Map your key workflows across department lines
- Find your worst handoff points
- Create one cross-team test with shared AI support
Which level excites or concerns you most? How might it change your team’s structure? Share your thoughts below.
