We've had "AI-level" automation for years. We just kept a human in the loop for liability, not capability.
- Pilots on modern aircraft are mostly systems monitors. The plane lands itself.
- Radiologists have been outperformed by image classifiers since ~2016. They're still required.
- Factory robots have been doing precision work since the 80s. Humans "supervise."
What changed isn't the capability — it's the public narrative.
The Mars rover thing is the same pattern wearing new clothes.