What next?
Choose the next useful level, not the fanciest one.
You can stop at any level. The right level is the least complex one that solves your actual problem well.
The path
1
Ask
Use hosted AI for explanations, comparisons, drafting and research.
→2Structure
Improve results with goals, context, constraints, authority and verification.
→3Supply source material
Work from documents and data rather than memory and guesswork.
→4Build
Use AI for code while preserving architecture, tests, versioning and review.
→5Connect
Give AI controlled tools and narrow API access to real systems.
→6Host
Operate a model locally when privacy, control or cost justify the responsibility.
→When to move up
| If you need… | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| answers, ideas, explanations | Level 1 | No integration required. |
| reliable project-specific help | Level 2 | The AI needs your context and constraints. |
| analysis of your own material | Level 3 | Give it the source rather than describing the source badly. |
| software creation or review | Level 4 | You need architecture, tests, deterministic behavior and real verification. |
| AI to take bounded actions | Level 5 | Tools/APIs require authentication, authorization and auditability. |
| models to run on your machine | Level 6 | You accept hardware and operations in exchange for local control. |