In an age where AI can execute tasks, the most valuable human trait will be agency—the will to dream up new ideas and act upon them. Instilling this sense of agency is crucial for the next generation to leverage AI as a tool rather than be displaced by it.

The centralizing technologies of the 20th century (mass media, mass production) are being superseded by decentralizing ones (internet, crypto). This is causing history to "run in reverse," with modern events mirroring 19th-century patterns like the rise of robber baron-like figures and the fracturing of empires.

As the traditional employer-employee social contract breaks and AI automates cognitive tasks, individuals can no longer rely on physical or mental effort for their value. This shift compels a deeper search for purpose and what makes us uniquely human: our soul and self-awareness.

As AI automates jobs, widespread unemployment will compel individuals to start their own small businesses to survive. This shift marks a return to self-reliance and entrepreneurship driven by necessity rather than ambition, echoing a past economic structure.

Unlike previous generations with limited career paths, today's young people have unprecedented agency. The widespread availability of angel investors and a culture that supports entrepreneurship mean that starting a business with a good idea is a far more realistic option straight out of college.

The default path to prosperity provided by a societal framework is broken due to systemic economic issues. However, individuals can still thrive by focusing on developing high-utility skills, creating their own path to success.

AI is dramatically increasing the capabilities of a single individual, lowering the barrier to entrepreneurship. This technological leverage will enable a massive new wave of solo founders who can build and scale businesses without the need for large teams or significant venture funding.

With information freely available via AI tools like ChatGPT, the excuse of “not knowing how” is gone. The key to success is no longer access to knowledge but the personal accountability to act on it and take full ownership of outcomes, both good and bad.

Humans have an innate entrepreneurial drive, or agency, that has been suppressed by rigid social systems like traditional education and corporate career paths. The rise of creators on platforms like Etsy and TikTok proves this agency exists; technology is simply providing the tools to unlock it at scale.