Beyond Substitution
Initially, machines replace specific tasks. But once enough tasks are automated, a new opportunity arises: Process Re-engineering. Companies realize they are supporting a "human-centric" infrastructure (HR, ergonomic desks, 9-to-5 schedules) that machines don't need.
The Machine-First Workflow
Re-engineering means designing systems from the ground up for machine capabilities.
- Example: The "Internet of Things" (IoT) allows machines to talk directly to other machines—ordering parts, scheduling maintenance, or adjusting logistics—without any human manager approving the decision.
This "bypassing of human agency" accelerates efficiency but removes the final safety valve of human oversight (and employment).
No Going Back
Jobs lost to process re-engineering do not come back when the economy recovers. The infrastructure to support them has been dismantled. The factory has been rebuilt as a "dark factory" (lights out, no humans).