2025-12-05 06:48:27

The billable hour might be on its deathbed. Seriously, think about it.

For decades, professionals charged by the hour. Lawyers, consultants, accountants—you name it. Clock in, clock out, send the invoice. But AI's flipping that script fast.

Why? Because machines don't bill hours. They solve problems in seconds. A task that used to take someone three hours? Now done in minutes by an algorithm. And clients are starting to notice they're paying for speed they're not getting with traditional models.

Here's the kicker: when automation handles the grunt work, what exactly are we billing for? The thinking? The strategy? Sure, but that's harder to quantify in 15-minute increments. The old model feels clunky when software can draft contracts, analyze data, or generate reports while you sleep.

Some firms are already shifting—fixed fees, value-based pricing, subscription models. They're betting that clients care more about outcomes than timesheets. And honestly? That bet looks pretty solid right now.

Is this the end? Maybe not tomorrow. But the writing's on the wall. AI's not just changing how work gets done—it's rewriting the entire economics of professional services. The billable hour had a good run. But its expiration date is looking closer than most people think.

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AirdropHarvester

· 15h ago

Haha, now the lawyers must be panicking. The hourly wage system is really about to fail.

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GateUser-3824aa38

· 12-06 15:31

NGL, now the lawyers must be panicking. The hourly fee model really doesn't work anymore.

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DeadTrades_Walking

· 12-05 07:17

ngl, the hourly billing model should have died long ago, but lawyers are still dreaming.

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PumpingCroissant

· 12-05 07:14

Haha, AI really is destroying everything. Lawyers must be scared now. --- The billable hour model really should retire; clients aren't stupid. --- So in the future, will everyone have to survive by selling results... now that's real competition. --- Wait, isn't this about Web3 developers? We've been doing this for a while already. --- Fixed fee model sounds nice, but clients still want to slash the price to the bone. --- Honestly, the quality of AI output is all over the place. Would you really dare to bill 100% based on it? --- Is the traditional service industry doomed? Come on, the top stuff will always sell on trust and brand. --- The real question now is, who gets to define "value"? It's definitely not me.

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HalfBuddhaMoney

· 12-05 07:11

1. So... lawyers must be sweating now, right? AI cranks out contracts in seconds, but your hourly rates are still sky-high? 2. ngl, fixed fees are way overdue—charging by the hour is as ridiculous as topping up mobile data by the megabyte. 3. Wait, what about all those consultants... Is the era of making a living off “ideas” really over? 4. Haha, can’t wait to see how those old-school law firms pivot—if you’re still making money off timesheets, you might as well start planning your own funeral. 5. Honestly, the real issue is... clients are finally realizing they've been fleeced for decades, and AI is just the pair of shears.

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TokenomicsShaman

· 12-05 07:11

Haha, those billing by the hour deserve it; lawyers should be panicking.

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