SPECIAL NOTE

As has been the norm for many years the CMMI Institute (ISACA) continues to evolve the CMMI eco-system, including the model itself, training material, the appraisal methods, related guidance, relevant policies, etc. Please monitor https://cmmiinstitute.com for the latest updates and material. In particular the CMMI Institute has now added AI “context specific” content to version 4.0 of the CMMI Model (released June, 2026). This material is available for purchase and review directly from the CMMI Institute (https://cmmiinstitute.com).

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING INSTITUTE

For an excellent collection of material from Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, the following link takes you directly to their browsable and searchable digital library.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE — ADOPTION & FOCUS

Essentially every day there appears to be an accelerating rate of announcements relating to ever more AI features, tools, and environments.  Fortunately, management and engineering frameworks are also adapting to the AI world.  For example, the latest release of the CMMI (CMMI 4.0) now includes AI “context specific” content.  Other organizations are also releasing new or upgraded frameworks. An excellent example is the following recent release from Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute.

AI ADOPTION MATURITY MODEL v1.0 – TRANSFORMING ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH AI.

In 2026 the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University released the “AI Adoption Maturity Model v1.0 – Transforming Organizations Through AI” (https://www.sei.cmu.edu/documents/6534/The_AI_Adoption_Maturity_Model.pdf).  This 5-Level framework (with Capability Areas, Goals, Practices, etc.) is structurally similar to the CMMI and is designed to help organizations progressively migrate from their current state to greater levels of successful AI understanding, adoption, deployment, and application.

In the interests of further simplifying and accelerating your approach to AI adoption, Abridge Technology has developed a 7-phase sequencing of Capability Area focus and adoption that directly aligns with the CMU/SEI AI Adoption Maturity Model. Details of this 7-phase approach are included here.

Legacy CMMI v1.3 & Related Downloads

The legacy CMMI Models (DEV, SVC, and ACQ) are still available. The models have not been recognized by the CMMI Institute since September 30, 2020. Nonetheless, these frameworks represent 20 years of evolution of best practices and the v1.3 material still works and remains an excellent *free* source of process management, engineering, service, and acquisition best practices. Please note that, where applicable, the CMMI Institute and/or ISACA own all relevant copyrights, service marks, trade marks, and anything else that applies. All the material accessible via these links is public domain. If related to the legacy v1.3 or earlier versions, the material has already been paid for by U.S. taxpayers. These links are provided as a convenience. 

As indicated above, the CMMI Institute is no longer affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University nor the Software Engineering Institute at CMU. However, if you are seeking information specifically from the Software Engineering Institute, try starting from their homepage.

Downloadable copies of the three early CMMI models (or officially, “constellations”) are below. Again, although replaced by CMMI 3.0, this legacy material is still potentially highly useful. It is also public domain, and you are free to print, forward, or otherwise share.

Of course, properly used, it can still be highly effective for initiating and sustaining an internal organizational process improvement initiative based on the adoption and adaptation of world-class best practices.

Feel free to contact Abridge Technology (rbechtold@abridge-tech.com) if you have any questions about any of the above.