AI Just Gave You Superpowers — Now What?
A hot paper — "Some Simple Economics of AGI" — has been making the rounds, so we sat down with the author, covering:
- Automation vs. verification: the key economic split
- Why AI agents now feel like coworkers - What's happening to junior roles and the “codifier’s curse”
- The “AI sandwich” structure for firms
- The value of "meaning-makers," consensus, and status economies
- Why crypto may become essential infrastructure for identity, provenance, and trust
- Two possible futures: a hollow vs. augmented economy
Featuring Christian Catalini (founder of MIT Crypto Economics Lab) and Eddy Lazzarin (CTO of a16z crypto) in conversation with Robert Hackett, our discussion dives deep into how automation is reshaping labor markets, as well as the nature of intelligence.
What do these changes mean for startups, the future of work, and your career?
Highlights
00:00 Introduction
01:47 AGI economics optimism and playbook
05:39 Agents as coworkers
07:39 Software work becomes verification
10:47 Automation versus verification
12:03 "Unknown unknowns" and taste
16:27 Human augmentation and intent
17:55 The "AI Sandwich" and "Codifier's Curse"
21:54 "Meaning-makers" and the human touch
23:48 Crypto for identity and trust?
27:10 Measurability: How to think about it
33:23 Machine coordination and art after automation
35:46 Trojan horse risks
37:47 Liability and insurance
41:08 Crypto and verification
44:31 A hollow vs. augmented economy
49:45 Career advice in the AI era
51:26 The one-person billion-dollar startup
57:15 Open-source as antibodies
58:42 Blockchains for coordination
01:01:49 Closing thoughts
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As always, none of the following should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.
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