20th Century was Corporations, 21st Century for you! (Patreon)

TLDR

The 21st century could be the age of humans, with AI as our trusted ally!

The Big Idea

Economists from MIT and Harvard just dropped a fascinating idea - AI could soon make markets so efficient that the traditional company might fade away.

But don’t panic — this could be an incredible opportunity for those who adapt.

Decades ago, economist Ronald Coase asked why companies even exist.
His answer: because using the open market is messy and expensive — finding suppliers, comparing prices, signing contracts — it’s all friction.

So businesses were built to reduce that friction by organizing everything inside one system.

Now, imagine everyone having their own AI agent — a tireless, hyper-rational assistant that acts entirely in your best interest. It can find the best deal, find you a job, negotiate instantly, and make smart choices 24/7 — no marketing manipulation, no wasted time.

This technology could level the playing field between giant corporations and everyday people.

If everyone uses AI agents, those old “transaction costs” disappear — the very reason companies were needed in the first place. In this world, your AI could skip Amazon and buy straight from the manufacturer, team up with thousands of other AIs to secure bulk discounts, or negotiate your next job offer — while you focus on the human side of life.

We move from centralized corporations to decentralized and personalized power.

• The 20th century was the age of corporations.

• The 21st could be the age of empowered humans with intelligent agents by their side.

h.t to Sanjay for the paper