AI Engineering's 80/15/5 Rule: Match Model Size to Task

A new framework for AI engineering divides tasks into three tiers: 80% can be handled by cheap, lightweight models like GPT-Mini; 15% require advanced reasoning from models like Opus; and only 5% need expensive, top-tier models for complex enterprise problems. The rule aims to prevent cost overruns by matching model capability to task complexity. It offers a practical guide for building scalable and cost-effective AI systems.