Intellectual Labour
Weightless
Strategy, synthesis, coding, writing, analysis
Work that operates on information — the domain where LLMs already match or exceed median human performance.
AI Relationship: LLMs replacing and augmenting now
↓ Commoditised
Physical Labour
Atom-bound
Logistics, manufacturing, skilled trades
Work that requires physical presence and manipulation — constrained by the speed of atoms, not bits.
AI Relationship: Robotics converging on a 2–3 year lag
→ Converging
Accountability Labour
Presence-bound
Judgment, oversight, ownership, ethical decision-making
Work that requires a human to be accountable — to stand behind a decision and accept the consequences.
AI Relationship: Cannot be automated
★ Monopoly
Architectural Labour
Design-bound
Building AI systems, workflows, and orchestration layers
A new category emerging from the AI transition — designing how humans and AI systems work together.
AI Relationship: New category, rapidly expanding
↑ Growth