Method · version 1 · 26 Oct 2026
A model small enough to argue with
The atlas uses a deliberately simple, deterministic rule set. Simplicity is the feature: you can see exactly why a task lands where it does, and change your mind.
Three ratings per task (0–3)
- C — Codifiability. 0: tacit, improvised. 3: follows rules, templates or abundant examples.
- R — Relational / physical presence. 0: none needed. 3: the task is the relationship, care or bodily skill.
- S — Stakes. 0: errors are cheap and visible. 3: errors are costly, hidden, or borne by someone vulnerable.
Ratings were assigned editorially by the author for this atlas, informed by the sources on the Read Further page. They are not derived from any dataset and have not been validated.
Four rules, applied in order
- R ≥ 2 → protect
- C = 3 and S ≤ 1 → automate
- C ≥ 2 and S ≥ 2 → rethink
- otherwise → augment
Order matters: a task needing presence is protected even if parts are codifiable. That is a value judgment, stated openly.
Uncertainty
A rating of 1 or 2 sits near a threshold where reasonable people might disagree. Each such rating adds one step: 0–1 boundary ratings = low, 2 = medium, 3 = contested.
Worked examples
| Task | C R S | Rule | Bin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Record daily cash, UPI and khata entries | 3 0 1 | 2 | automate |
| Decide who gets goods on udhaar | 1 3 3 | 1 | protect |
| Screen CVs against a shortlist | 2 1 3 | 3 | rethink |
| Decide whether a result is causal | 1 0 3 | 4 | augment |
The last example shows a weakness: a high-stakes, hard-to-codify judgment lands in “augment” by default. Many readers will want to call it “protect”. The tool records that disagreement rather than hiding it.
What the model cannot tell you
- Whether your job will exist, or how many jobs will be lost. It makes no employment forecast.
- How much of your time each task takes — counts are tasks, not hours.
- Whether your employer will adopt a tool, which depends on cost, data, law, trust and bargaining power.
- Anything about wages, contracts or legal rights in your jurisdiction.
Privacy
All sorting, ticks and skills are saved only in your browser's local storage. Exports are generated on your device. The site makes no network requests with your data and uses no analytics.