A lot of what I said also has machines doing the job better than humans. Copying books and message bearing for example.

I don’t understand your concept of surplus value. Wouldn’t making profit count as creating surplus value? People can make profit using purely automated production. Or what about turning raw materials into useful products for yourself or to sell to others? Isn’t that creating surplus value?

humans on the other hand are paid just so much as the capitalist can get away with without them revolting

That sounds just like the fact machines are given just as much as they require to do their job without breaking. I don’t see the difference. The businessman could decorate his machines and give them more breaks and oil changes than they need, but he doesn’t so therefore he is now getting “surplus value” compared to if he had done those things.