A Heuristic Model for Computational Leverage and Human Domain Depth: V = D · Lᶜ

Current technological discourse vacillates between two flawed extremes: viewing artificial intelligence as uncredited synthetic plagiarism, or attributing sovereign creative agency to computational systems. This paper presents an operational heuristic, V = D · Lᶜ, to model the boundary conditions of human-machine production. We formalize final deliverable value (V) as the product of non-computational human biological mass—Domain Depth (D)—and Machine Leverage (L) scaled exponentially by the operator's Clarity (C). Through analysis of boundary states (D = 0, C = 0), the "stenographer illusion," structural biology milestones (AlphaFold), and grounding thought experiments, we demonstrate that computational throughput in the absence of mortal accountability, domain scars, and physical maintenance yields zero durable systemic value. Software provides frictionless leverage; functional reality requires a biological creature with skin in the game. Primary Reference: Adapted from the core theoretical chapter of "Your Mouth Is Legacy Infrastructure" (2026).