A 5-Level Pyramid of AI Innovation

Introduction

AI innovation continues to emerge every day, from everywhere, in every way. So how can we better guage the relative significance of different AI innovations, trends and opportunities? This article introduces a new conceptual model for a 5-Level Pyramid of AI Innovation as a way to help achieve this goal.

Premise

The 5-Level Pyramid of AI Innovation is based on the premise that not all AI innovations are equally innovative — some are more transformative than others. The 5-Level Pyramid of AI Innovation categorizes practical applications of AI into 1 of 5 Levels, ranging from Routine Solutions to Scientific Discoveries:

Each Level is described in further detail below, including established, well-known, and relatable examples. The year for each example provides context for the level of innovation at that time.

Level 1: Routine Solutions

Description

Routine Solutions focus on practical applications of well-known AI technologies within existing systems. These innovations are widely accessible and straightforward but lack novelty.

Key Characteristics

• Low risk and cost, focused on operational efficiency
• Depend heavily on existing frameworks or toolsets

Examples

• 2021 — Microsoft Teams introduced AI-Powered Meeting Recaps, summarizing key points and action items from meetings using existing transcription technology, improving productivity in remote work.
• 2022 — Canva introduced Background Remover, leveraging existing computer vision and segmentation algorithms to identify and remove backgrounds in images, simplifying the design process for non-experts with a user-friendly, one-click interface.

Level 2: Minor Improvements

Description

Minor Improvements are characterized by creativity and originality—hallmarks of Level 2 solutions that distinguish them from Level 1 solutions.

Key Characteristics

• Leverage existing technologies while introducing some degree of novelty
• Combine established ideas in creative ways to expand functionality or deliver a distinctly improved experience

Examples

• 2021 — Adobe Photoshop introduced Neural Filters, leveraging generative AI to allow users to apply advanced image edits like changing expressions or restoring old photos, showcasing a creative way to enhance photo editing.
• 2023 — Grammarly introduced Tone Detection for Emails, using natural language processing (NLP) to analyze the emotional tone of email drafts and suggest adjustments, demonstrating a creative way to improve written communication.

Level 3: Major Improvements

Description

Major Improvements require significant innovation within a domain and often involve applying advanced AI techniques or combining multiple disciplines. They provide a notable leap in capability or efficiency, setting a new standard within a specific domain.

Key Characteristics

• Introduce innovative methods or adaptations of advanced AI technologies
• Focused on solving complex problems or enabling functionality that represents a significant advancement within the domain

Examples

• 2022 — Adobe Premiere Pro introduced AI-Powered Auto Reframe, using computer vision to automate video reframing, solving a complex editing challenge and setting a new standard for efficiency
• 2024 — Tesla introduced AI-Powered Fleet Learning, using real-time data sharing across vehicles to improve autonomous driving behavior, solving complex scenarios and setting a new standard for self-driving technology

Level 4: Breakthrough Solutions

Description

Breakthrough Solutions are revolutionary innovations that redefine industry standards or create entirely new markets. They often involve pioneering AI techniques or combining multiple technologies to achieve results previously considered unattainable. These breakthroughs can significantly influence the direction of an industry.

Key Characteristics

• Set new benchmarks for performance, efficiency, or capability within a domain
• Typically require the integration of expertise from multiple fields, such as computer science, engineering, and domain-specific areas, to tackle complex challenges

Examples

• 2020 — Waymo launched its Driverless Service, using autonomous technology to offer taxi rides in complex urban environments and achieve Level 4 autonomy, redefining benchmarks for performance and capability in autonomous vehicles
• 2021 — OpenAI introduced DALL-E, an AI designed to generate original images from text descriptions, pushing the boundaries of generative creativity, combining advanced AI techniques to achieve results previously considered unattainable in generative creativity

Level 5: Scientific Discoveries

Description

Scientific Discoveries represent groundbreaking advancements that push the boundaries of science and technology. This often involves the creation of entirely new AI paradigms or architectures, leading to a fundamental shift in how problems are approached and solved. These discoveries typically advance AI as a field rather than just its applications.

Key Characteristics:

• Achieve groundbreaking advancements that redefine the limits of AI
• Often pave the way for entirely new industries or scientific disciplines

Examples:

• 2020 — OpenAI introduced GPT-3, a large language model that demonstrated unprecedented capabilities in generating coherent, human-like text across diverse domains, expanding the horizons of conversational AI and language models
• 2020 — DeepMind launched AlphaFold, an AI system that predicts protein structures with remarkable accuracy, solving a 50-year-old challenge in biology and paving the way for new scientific disciplines like AI-driven bioinformatics

Conclusion

This article introduced a new conceptual model for a 5-Level Pyramid of AI Innovation, offering a clear and structured way to conceptualize the relative significance of past, present and future AI innovations. How does this model align with your own views of AI innovation? Post in the comments below!

Next Steps

Want to take your AI innovations to the next level? Reach out to info@adac1001.com for a free consultation!