In his First Annual Message delivered to Congress on December 3, 1861, Lincoln declared, “labor is prior to and independent of capital,” adding that capital is only the “fruit of labor”.8 In this speech, where he uses the word “labor” thirty-one times, Lincoln argues for maintaining a moral foundation for business operations in which human labor, creativity, and dignity are the dominant factors over capital, profits, and efficiency.
That perspective resonates amid modern debates over AI and automation. While some business leaders predict widespread job displacement, Lincoln viewed labor as central to human purpose and self-worth. Innovation, in his view, should expand opportunity rather than reduce people to expendable inputs. Rather than viewing labor as merely a means to an end whose sole purpose is the generation of financial profit, Lincoln considered labor an essential element in defining one’s purpose in life, a core foundation of one’s own human dignity. 9
In today’s AI paradigm, Lincoln’s message remains as relevant as ever. Some of the nation’s most prominent business leaders predict that AI will eventually eliminate all human work10 and the largest corporations plan to invest in automation at the expense of human labor and welfare.11 A recent report suggests algorithmic scheduling systems in retail and logistics tend to prioritize speed and profit at the expense of employee stability and well-being.12
By contrast, AI-powered education platforms that allow workers to retrain and advance into roles with higher skills echo Lincoln’s belief that labor should be elevated rather than replaced.13 Lincoln’s belief that innovation should elevate rather than replace human work suggests he would support that latter and reject the former— used solely to maximize profits by displacing labor.