The Framework
Six reasons humans may still be needed after AGI
Each dimension is a distinct type of human necessity — not about current AI limitations, but about what work fundamentally requires.
The framework scores jobs across two timelines: AGI (cognitive capability match) and Embodied AGI (cognitive + physical). Some dimensions lose their protective power when physical robotics catch up.
The Six Dimensions
Accountability
Someone must legally or morally own the outcome. AGI cannot hold a license, go to court, or bear personal responsibility.
Why it persists: Legal systems and moral frameworks require identifiable persons to be accountable. This is structural, not technological.
High
Surgeon, Judge, CEO
Low
Data entry clerk, Content moderator
Trust Relationship
The human connection is the service. Replacing the human with a machine — even an equally capable one — destroys or diminishes the value.
Why it persists: Some services derive their value from the human relationship itself. The specific person matters.
High
Therapist, Teacher, Pastor
Low
Tax preparer, Proofreader
Intuition Depth
Experience compounds into judgment that cannot be replicated through training data. Years of consequential decisions build something qualitatively different from learned patterns.
Why it persists: Some forms of expertise emerge from lived experience in ways that transcend pattern matching.
High
Emergency physician, Detective, Master craftsman
Low
Cashier, Assembly line worker
Legitimacy
Society or law requires a human to fill the role — regardless of capability. About what the role means, not what it does.
Why it persists: Certain roles carry civic, cultural, or legal significance that is inherently tied to human participation.
High
Judge, Elected official, Notary
Low
Software developer, Graphic designer
Physical Unpredictability
Environments too chaotic for reliable robotic operation. This dimension provides protection only until Embodied AGI.
Why it persists: Until robotics can handle genuinely unpredictable physical environments, humans remain necessary. This is a timeline factor, not a permanent one.
High
Plumber, Construction worker, Wilderness guide
Low
Warehouse worker, Factory assembler
Human Preference
People choose human even when the machine is equally capable. The human element has intrinsic value to them.
Why it persists: Some people derive comfort, meaning, or satisfaction specifically from human involvement.
High
Massage therapist, Bartender, Live musician
Low
Accountant, Translator
How Scoring Works
Each dimension is scored 0–2 based on survey responses. These scores combine to produce two outputs: one for an AGI world and one for an Embodied AGI world. The Physical Unpredictability dimension contributes only to the AGI score — it drops out once physical robotics match human capability.
Structural reasons make human involvement necessary regardless of AI capability.
Humans are strongly preferred but not structurally required.
Humans may add value but are not necessary for the work to be done well.
No structural reason for human involvement once AI matches the capability threshold.
What This Framework Does Not Claim
This framework does not predict timelines. It does not account for economic factors, political decisions, or cultural shifts. It maps the structural reasons human involvement may be necessary — not everything that will happen.
How To Contribute
The framework itself is a first version. It will be wrong in places and incomplete in others. If you have a critique, a missing dimension, or a structural disagreement — join the discussion on Discord.
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