AI Leverage Ladder

Why the model exists

AI use cases are often compared by novelty or hours saved even when they change very different parts of the system. The ladder classifies leverage by how deeply intelligence changes work, decisions and the enterprise value model.

Dimensions it makes visible

The dimensions create shared language without reducing the decision to a formula.

• ✓ Assist: improve an individual task
• ✓ Automate: remove repeatable workflow effort
• ✓ Augment: improve a consequential decision
• ✓ Redesign: create a new operating or value model

Questions for using it

The model begins with questions that expose assumptions and boundaries.

• ✓ What changes beyond user productivity?
• ✓ Which workflow or decision is redesigned?
• ✓ What control protects quality and accountability?
• ✓ Can the value scale without hidden human work?

Where it creates value

Use the ladder to govern AI portfolios, sequence enabling capabilities and prevent isolated productivity tools from being reported as enterprise transformation.

Evidence that it is working

These signals show that the model changed the decision, not only the conversation.

• ✓ Benefits tied to workflows and decisions
• ✓ Controls matched to consequence
• ✓ Portfolio movement toward scalable operating leverage