Human Premium Sustains Human Work

Updated: 2026.01.06 22D ago 1 sources
Even if AI can technically perform most tasks, durable markets and social roles for human‑made goods and services will persist because people value human connection, authenticity, and status signaling. This preference can blunt the worst predictions of automated capital‑concentration by creating labor niches that are economically meaningful and resilient. — If true, policy responses to automation should balance redistribution and safety/regulation with measures that strengthen and expand human‑centric economic activity (platform rules, labour policy, cultural support), not assume mass permanent unemployment.

Sources

Stratechery Pushes Back on AI Capital Dystopia Predictions
msmash 2026.01.06 100% relevant
Ben Thompson explicitly argues that human preference for human‑created content and connection (podcasting audiences, dating, social apps like Sora ranking) will continue to sustain economically valuable human labor despite broad automation claims.
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