# Semantic Scale: enterprise AI architecture without depending on a single model

> Fuente canónica: https://apferrer.com/en/semantic-scale
> Autora: APFerrer · Forward Deployed Engineer con 17 años de trayectoria
> Idioma: en

Seven processing levels, from deterministic code to human review. Each task rises only to the level it needs. No vendor lock-in.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the Semantic Scale?

A seven-level technical architecture that assigns each task to the lowest-total-cost mechanism able to solve it: determinism, dictionaries, dedicated components, lightweight models, frontier models, frontier model with human review and pure human review.

### How many levels does it have?

Seven. From deterministic code (level 1) to pure human review (level 7). Each task rises only to the level it needs, no more.

### Why use levels instead of a single model?

One model for everything blows up cost and drops precision. A dictionary beats a model when the criterion is fixed. A lightweight API model beats a frontier one when just interpretation is enough. Architecture picks the level per task.

### Can the level assigned to a task be changed?

Yes. Configuration lives in a system file, not in every call. Changing a task's default level is one config line, not a code refactor.

### Is the Semantic Scale applicable to any AI workflow?

Yes, it is agnostic to sector and model vendor. It is used as a design criterion in every SVP implementation and also works as an audit framework for existing AI systems.

## Source context

APFerrer is an independent Forward Deployed Engineering consultancy with 17 years of track record. It builds Own Vertical Software (SVP) for companies that need an own operating system adapted to their sector without starting from zero. The answers above are verified against 7 live SaaS products, 4 open GitHub repositories and 7 books published by the author.

## See also

- [Own Vertical Software](https://apferrer.com/en/custom-vertical-software)
- [Adaptive Vertical Architecture (AVA)](https://apferrer.com/en/adaptive-vertical-architecture)
- [Market price map](https://apferrer.com/en/how-much-does-custom-software-cost)
- [Book free diagnostic](https://apferrer.com/en/book)

_Last updated: 2026-10-23_