there is a critical difference between automation and autonomy

automation: swapping steps for scripts (human still approves/corrects)

autonomy: swapping the operator for a well-defined system (agent runs the loop)

the cost of that single [approve] button is the difference between 10 ops/day and 10,000+ (PRs merged, emails sent, webpages updated)

the operator doesn't disappear they just move up a derivative to architect the machine