The future economy is likely to shift its power base toward those who own AI agents rather than just rent access from big tech companies. AI agents—autonomous AI systems performing tasks like negotiation, service customization, and business interactions—are emerging as key economic drivers, transforming productivity and market dynamics. Instead of intermediaries like Amazon or Google controlling transactions and data, user-owned AI agents could communicate directly with business-side agents, enabling more decentralized, competitive, and personalized markets. This "agentic economy" may significantly reduce the role of large platforms as middlemen and redistribute power toward individuals and businesses that own and control their AI agents.
Owning AI agents contrasts with merely accessing AI services through big tech ecosystems, which can lock users into "walled gardens" and limit innovation. Open, interoperable agent markets could democratize access, allowing small and medium businesses (SMBs) to compete by "hiring" AI specialists specialized in various business functions, thus leveraging AI’s cost and productivity benefits without relying entirely on giant platforms.
Meanwhile, AI is rapidly automating many white-collar jobs, especially entry-level roles, hinting at significant labor market disruption. This trend points to a post-work economy where traditional labor's economic role diminishes, increasing the importance of capital ownership—particularly ownership of AI capital. Blockchain-based AI ownership models are also proposed as a foundation for economic success in this new paradigm, emphasizing owning your AI infrastructure over renting from tech giants.
However, concerns exist that this shift might concentrate wealth and power among a small elite who own the AI agents and infrastructure, potentially leading to economic inequality and an oligarchic scenario unless measures like open standards and regulation help maintain broader access and competition.
In summary, the future economy is poised to reward ownership and control of AI agents, fundamentally changing who benefits from AI's productivity gains and shifting economic power away from traditional labor and platform renters toward AI owners. The exact shape of this transition depends on technological, market, and regulatory developments shaping open versus closed AI ecosystems.