Craft Augmentation AI: You Choose What Gets Enhanced
AI that respects your expertise and amplifies your craft—on your terms
The Control Principle: Who Decides What Gets Augmented?
The fundamental difference between our approach and capitalist automation isn’t the technology—it’s who controls it.
Augmentation (Worker-Controlled)
- You choose which tasks to enhance or delegate
- You decide what brings joy and stays manual
- You benefit from freed time and energy
- You own the tools and the improvements
Automation (Boss-Imposed)
- Management imposes technology to cut costs
- Decisions made without worker input
- Technology replaces people who want to work
- Benefits flow to owners, workers get displaced
When a woodworker decides they want help analyzing grain patterns but keeps hand-carving because they love it—that’s augmentation.
When a factory owner buys CNC machines to fire woodworkers—that’s automation.
The Problem We’re Solving
Capitalism sees craft work as inefficient—something to be automated away. They promise “liberation from drudgery” while actually liberating profits from workers. Their AI solutions aim to:
- Replace skilled craftspeople entirely
- Standardize unique, personal work
- Extract craft knowledge without compensation
- Turn meaningful work into commodity production
But craftspeople don’t need to be “liberated” from work they love. They need tools that free up time for the parts they enjoy most.
Our Solution: The Intelligent Apprentice
Instead of AI that replaces, we’re building AI that respects. Think of it as an intelligent apprentice that:
- Learns what you want help with (not what someone else decides)
- Handles the tedious parts you’d rather skip
- Enhances your creativity without imposing solutions
- Preserves your expertise and amplifies your skills
- Keeps you in control of every decision
This isn’t about making craft “more efficient.” It’s about giving craftspeople power over their own work.
How You Stay in Control
1. Task Selection Control
You decide what gets augmented
- Choose which tasks to delegate to AI
- Keep the work that brings satisfaction
- Change your mind anytime
- No forced automation
Example: A potter chooses glaze chemistry help but shapes every piece by hand.
2. Suggestion, Not Direction
AI proposes, you dispose
- All AI output is suggestions
- You make every creative decision
- Override anything instantly
- AI learns your preferences
Example: AI suggests wood joints, but the woodworker chooses which to use.
3. Skill-Appropriate Assistance
Help that matches your level
- Beginners get more guidance
- Masters get subtle enhancements
- You control the assistance level
- Grow at your own pace
Example: New weavers get pattern help, experienced ones get tension monitoring.
4. Knowledge Sovereignty
Your expertise stays yours
- You own all your craft data
- Share knowledge only if you choose
- No extraction without permission
- Attribution always maintained
Example: Your unique techniques remain your intellectual property.
5. Economic Control
Benefits flow to you
- You own the augmentation tools
- Increased value goes to you
- No platform fees or lock-in
- Cooperative economic models
Example: Better work means higher prices for you, not higher profits for bosses.
Real Craft Examples: You Choose What to Augment
Woodworking
You Choose to Augment:
- Grain pattern analysis for optimal cuts
- Joint strength calculations
- Material waste optimization
You Keep Manual:
- Hand carving and shaping
- Finish selection and application
- Design decisions and aesthetics
Your Benefits:
- More time for creative work
- Less material waste
- Premium pricing for optimized pieces
- Preserved satisfaction of handwork
Textile Crafts
You Choose to Augment:
- Pattern generation for inspiration
- Tension monitoring for consistency
- Color matching assistance
You Keep Manual:
- Weaving rhythm and flow
- Texture decisions
- Cultural pattern interpretation
Your Benefits:
- Faster prototyping
- Consistent quality when needed
- More energy for complex designs
- Maintained connection to cloth
Cooking & Food Craft
You Choose to Augment:
- Timing coordination for multiple dishes
- Temperature monitoring
- Scaling calculations
You Keep Manual:
- Flavor decisions and seasoning
- Plating and presentation
- Recipe creativity and adaptation
Your Benefits:
- Less stress during service
- Consistent results when needed
- Freedom to experiment
- Focus on taste and creativity
You Choose to Augment:
- Heat treatment calculations
- Stress analysis for structures
- Material compatibility checks
You Keep Manual:
- Hammer work and forming
- Artistic design elements
- Surface textures and finishes
Your Benefits:
- Improved safety
- Material optimization
- More time for artistic work
- Maintained physical connection
Pottery & Ceramics
You Choose to Augment:
- Glaze chemistry calculations
- Kiln firing schedules
- Shrinkage predictions
You Keep Manual:
- Clay shaping and throwing
- Surface decoration
- Form and proportion decisions
Your Benefits:
- Fewer failed firings
- Glaze innovation support
- More studio time for creation
- Preserved meditative practice
How It Works (Simply)
The Technology Serves You
Your Craft Practice
↓
You Identify Tedious Tasks
↓
You Choose What to Augment
↓
AI Provides Assistance
↓
You Maintain Full Control
↓
Enhanced Craft (Still Yours)
Key Technical Principles
Local-First: Your data stays on your devices
Open Source: No corporate control or lock-in
Modular: Adapt tools to your specific needs
Privacy-Preserving: Your techniques stay private
No cloud dependency. No surveillance. No extraction.
Craft Guilds Decide:
- Feature development priorities
- Automation boundaries
- Knowledge sharing protocols
- Economic models
Democratic Processes:
- One member, one vote
- Consensus on major changes
- Rotating leadership
- Transparent decisions
Protected Principles:
- Worker control is non-negotiable
- Benefits flow to practitioners
- No venture capital influence
- Community ownership forever
The Economic Model: Benefits Flow to Workers
Traditional Automation
- Owner buys machines → Fires workers → Keeps all profits
- Workers displaced → Skills devalued → Race to bottom
Craft Augmentation
- Workers control tools → Enhanced work → Higher value created
- Workers keep benefits → Skills preserved → Sustainable livelihood
Concrete Benefits
- Charge more for enhanced quality
- Take on more ambitious projects
- Reduce material waste
- Build reputation for excellence
- Maintain work-life balance
Getting Started
For Craftspeople
1. Assess Your Needs
- What tasks drain your energy?
- What work brings you joy?
- Where could help add value?
2. Connect With Others
- Find local craft communities
- Join augmentation discussions
- Share your priorities
3. Start Small
- Try one augmentation
- Keep full control
- Expand as comfortable
For Developers
1. Understand the Principle
- Worker control is paramount
- Respect craft knowledge
- Preserve human agency
2. Read the Full Spec
3. Build With Communities
- Partner with craftspeople
- Co-design everything
- Test in real workshops
For Communities
1. Organize Your Guild
- Gather interested craftspeople
- Define your values
- Set governance structure
2. Identify Priorities
- Survey member needs
- Vote on features
- Plan development
3. Seek Resources
- Apply for grants
- Build cooperatives
- Share costs fairly
The Future We’re Building
Imagine a world where:
- Craftspeople thrive with AI assistance they control
- Traditional skills are preserved and enhanced
- Workers own their tools and their futures
- Technology serves community needs, not capital
- Meaningful work remains meaningful
This isn’t just about better tools. It’s about who controls technology and who benefits from it.
Join the Movement
Ready to build AI that enhances rather than replaces?
“The question isn’t whether AI will change craft work. The question is whether craftspeople will control that change. With augmentation, you stay in charge.”