Utilitarian Neural Orchestration

The L-A-S-I Model

A proposed capability stack for understanding and measuring progress toward truly versatile artificial intelligence

Proposed Capability Stack

L
Layer 1
Linguistic Intelligence
Current LLMs — language understanding, reasoning, knowledge synthesis, text generation
A
Layer 2
Agentic Intelligence
Planning, tool use, goal pursuit, multi-step task execution — emerging capabilities
S
Layer 3
Spatial Intelligence
3D world models, embodiment, intuitive physics, navigation — the critical gap
I
Layer 4
Integrated Intelligence
All layers unified with persistent identity, continuous learning, and coherent memory
True Versatile AI = L + A + S + I
Current frontier models: L + partial A
What gets marketed as "AGI": L + A
What's actually needed: L + A + S + I

Why Spatial Matters for Safety

Risk Domain Why Spatial Capability Changes Everything
Autonomy Spatially-capable AI can act without humans typing commands
Irreversibility Physical actions can't be undone like deleting text
Verification Harder to audit actions in physical world than text outputs
Containment A robot can walk out of a lab; an LLM cannot
Deception Physical manipulation opens new deception surfaces
Dual-use Same capability that builds can destroy

A More Complete Taxonomy

ALI
Artificial Linguistic Intelligence
Text reasoning, knowledge, language generation
✓ Achieved
AAI
Artificial Agentic Intelligence
Planning, tool use, autonomous task completion
◐ Emerging
ASI
Artificial Spatial Intelligence
Embodiment, physics, 3D world modeling
◔ Research Phase
AUI
Artificial Unified Intelligence
All capabilities integrated with persistent identity
○ Not Yet

The Honest Assessment

ALI — Linguistic Intelligence 85%
AAI — Agentic Intelligence 35%
ASI — Spatial Intelligence 15%
AUI — Unified Intelligence 5%

What we call "AGI" today is really just advanced ALI (Artificial Linguistic Intelligence). The spatial gap represents the chasm between conversational chatbots and true versatile intelligence.

Until AI can catch a ball, we're not close to what the sci-fi vision of AGI promised.