Capability Overhang
A visual model of potential and practiceTimeline

AvailableRelevantUtilized
Capability capacity across range and performanceRange of work AI can addressLevel of performance AI can deliverLessMoreAvailableRelevantUsedOverhang

Click a step to watch the model build. The striped area is relevant capability left unused.

Try the model

Explore the gap for yourself.

Choose an example, then change the sliders. The graph uses the same fixed scale in every scenario.

AvailableRelevantUtilized
Capability capacity across range and performanceRange of work AI can addressLevel of performance AI can deliverLessMoreAvailableRelevantUsedOverhang
Relevant capacity left unused
Relevant capacity realized

Expands range and performance together. Examples leave room for further growth.

Percentage of available area relevant to this work.

How far utilization reaches along the horizontal axis.

How far utilization reaches along the vertical axis.

Illustrative geometry, not measured AI performance. Human controls use fixed conceptual units. Relevance is an area percentage. Efficiency affects what becomes practical and relevant.

How did the bundle get this big?

Explore the history of new capabilities, better performance, and growing access—from ChatGPT’s launch onward.

Explore the capability timeline Explore the illustrated history