The Architects of Our New World: How Visa, Google, and Walmart Are Building the Agentic Economy
While we debate the future of AI, the agentic economy is already being constructed in plain sight by three familiar giants: Visa, Google, and Walmart. This article moves beyond analyzing them in their traditional silos to reveal their deeper strategies. Each is architecting a unique, competing "Walled Garden" for our Algorithmic Shoppers. Discover the three distinct visions—the Universal Translator, the Universal Brain, and the Universal Supply Chain—and what they mean for the future of your business.
From the Agora to the Algorithm: The 7,000-Year Journey to Your Next Customer
The rise of the AI shopper seems like a radical, unprecedented disruption. But what if it's the most predictable evolution in economic history? This article traces the 7,000-year arc of "commercial abstraction," from the physical Agora to the abstract algorithm. By understanding how we've systematically delegated trust to proxies like coins, ledgers, and credit cards, we can see the Algorithmic Shopper not as a revolution, but as the final, logical step in our quest for frictionless commerce.
The Dog Food Dilemma: Why a Century of Marketing Is Obsolete in the AI Age
For a hundred years, marketing has focused on persuading the human shopper. But what happens when the shopper is no longer human? This article uses the classic "Dog Food Dilemma" to introduce the Shopper Schism (Great Decoupling)—the irreversible, AI-driven split between the human consumer and the transactional shopper. It deconstructs why our entire commercial playbook is becoming obsolete and what leaders must do to prepare for the age of the Algorithmic Shopper.
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.