The alignment ladder
The spine of the map. Every rung is stated as loop gain: each time AI gets markedly better and cheaper, how much stronger does one turn of this model's loop become?
Rungs Each rung is stated as loop gain
FLAGLeveragedBorrowed4A flag, off the ladder: the gain comes from expectations of the curve and reverses if it slows.R4Self-improvingSelf-set1The business redesigns its own loop, increasingly by agents.R3CompoundsRising4The loop makes its users more able, so the gain itself grows.R2RidesPositive23Each step of the curve makes its own loop stronger.R1Flow throughAbout zero6The curve helps it, but the gain passes straight through to customers and rivals.R0FightsNegative10The curve shrinks what it charges for (seats, hours, heads, words, clicks).