[pixl97]

>when people we convinced that machines could bootstrap themselves into contraptions that could move mountains.

With our modern construction equipment, we do move mountains.

[YeGoblynQueenne]

>> With our modern construction equipment, we do move mountains.

We do- using machines; not machines themselves.

[pixl97]

Eh, depends what you mean by that exactly.

Many of these machines can be programmed to follow a primary human driven machine and replicate the task. Other machines are piloted by a human, but the human does far less work someone that used 'manual hydraulic' equipment of many generations ago. You can 'program' a few sets of moves in them and then only slightly adjust the equipment on each pass as the equipment does that work.