You've nailed the uncomfortable reality that many are still avoiding. I've been saying for three years: 'AI won't replace people, but people using AI will replace people who don't.' Your data points confirm what I'm seeing across industries.
The hierarchy you've outlined is spot-on, but I'd add a crucial fourth category: The AI-Strategic Leader - those who aren't just using AI tools, but reimagining entire workflows and business models around human-AI collaboration. These are the people becoming indispensable.
Your electricity analogy is perfect. Just like we stopped talking about 'electric-powered' businesses once electricity became ubiquitous, we'll stop prefacing everything with 'AI-powered' once it's truly integrated. The companies and professionals winning right now are those treating AI as infrastructure, not novelty.
What I find most interesting is the productivity gap you mention. It's not just 2-5x output - it's fundamentally different types of work. AI-augmented employees are tackling problems that non-AI users can't even attempt. The divide isn't just efficiency; it's capability.
The career ceiling point hits hardest. I'm seeing organizations where AI literacy has become as fundamental as computer literacy was 20 years ago.
