Automation Undermines Human Value In Workplaces

Mike Amundsen argues in a republished Substack essay that organizations are committing the 'Doorman Fallacy' by replacing human roles with AI that replicates visible tasks while losing judgment, empathy, and symbolic functions. He cites Rory Sutherland's concept and examples — Commonwealth Bank's reversal after laying off 45 agents and Taco Bell pausing AI drive-throughs — to warn that focusing on visible metrics can produce cheaper but poorer customer experiences, urging AI as coaching tools rather than replacements.