The Automaton Economy (Part 3): The Hybrid Economic Engine
Building on the foundational principles from Part 2, this article details the operational core of the Automaton Economy. I propose a resilient, three-layered hybrid model. The foundational layer is a Resource-Based Economy that uses AI to provide all necessities for free. The social layer is a digital gift economy where reputation, not money, is the currency for creative and intellectual work. The final layer is a dynamic market of worker-owned cooperatives for innovation. This is the engine of a post-scarcity world.
The Automaton Economy (Part 2): The Four Pillars of a Post-Work Society
In Part 1, we established why AI-driven automation makes our current economic system unviable. Now, in Part 2 of "The Automaton Economy," we begin the work of construction. This article outlines the four foundational principles required for a stable and prosperous post-work society: de-linking survival from labor, shifting production from profit to use, establishing democratic control over automated systems, and integrating ecological sustainability as a core economic goal. These pillars form the constitutional bedrock for a new social contract fit for the 21st century.
The Automaton Economy (Part 1): The Inevitable Obsolescence of Capitalism
This article launches a new series, The Automaton Economy, which confronts the most critical question of our time: What happens when AI makes mass human labor obsolete? We begin by diagnosing the terminal illness of our current economic system. I argue that AI automation creates a fatal paradox of production without consumption, leading to a systemic death spiral. This post deconstructs the inadequacy of patchwork solutions like Universal Basic Income (UBI) and establishes the urgent need to architect a new socio-economic model built for an age of intelligent machines.
The Great Disruptor: Is the Influencer Industry's Time Up?
The influencer industry is on the verge of its greatest disruption. This article explores why the old playbook of persuasion, built on human psychology, is becoming obsolete in an age of algorithmic shoppers and why the new king of influence will be the expert.
Foundations of a New Playbook for the Agentic Age (Part 3 of 3)
Having established the "what" (Amazon's withdrawal) and the "why" (the rise of the Algorithmic Shopper), we arrive at the final, most critical question for leadership: what must be done now? The strategic playbook developed over the last century, designed to appeal to human psychology, is now obsolete. Victory in the agentic age requires a fundamental pivot from the art of persuasion to the science of machine optimization.
The Shopper Schism™ and the Rise of the Algorithmic Shopper: When your New Customer is a Machine (Part 2 of 3)
Amazon’s multi-billion-dollar bet on the Algorithmic Shopper signals a profound shift. This is the "Shopper Schism™," where your brand is chosen not by a human, but by a dispassionate AI proxy.
The Shot Heard 'Round the Gardens: An Analysis of Amazon's Withdrawal from Google Shopping and the Dawn of Agentic Commerce (Part 1 of 3)
Amazon's quiet withdrawal from Google Shopping is the first shot in an agentic turf war that signals the dawn of a new era. This analysis reveals why this move proves 'The Great Decoupling' is here and what it means for your brand when your new customer is a machine.
Humanity's Final Project: Parenting Our Successors
Everyone is asking if AI will take their job. I think that's the wrong question. The real question is bigger: are we building our evolutionary successors? And if so, are we being good parents? In my new article, I explore the idea that this is humanity's final and most important project. Dive in and let's discuss.
The New Customer: Is Your Business Ready to Sell to AI?
For decades, we've marketed to people. But what happens when your next customer isn't human? What happens when you have to sell to an AI? We're entering an age where brand storytelling and emotional connection will be tested by algorithmic objectivity. Vague promises of 'quality' won't be enough for an AI that can parse every data point of your product in an instant. In my new article, I break down the strategic shifts every CCO, CMO, CRO, and CEO needs to consider today.
AI, Leaders, & Accountability: Are We Repeating History's Biggest Mistake?
The article critically re-examines the historical narrative of leadership, contrasting the direct accountability of pre-industrial aristocrats with the often-diluted responsibility in modern political systems and the emerging opacity of AI. The article explores the vital question of who is truly accountable in an age of complex global challenges and rapid technological ascent. It's a crucial read for leaders, policymakers, and anyone invested in the ethical implications of AI and governance.