What Exactly Do We Need?

Not in the way economists usually mean, where models break down at the margins. The whole framework stops working. Supply, demand, scarcity — these concepts assume things that won’t be true anymore.

Here’s a thought experiment. Imagine AI that can teach anyone to grow perfect food at home. Add 3D printing cheap enough to make custom furniture. Mix in personalized medicine synthesis. What happens to the economy?

When production costs approach zero and AI can guide anyone through making anything, a different question emerges. Not “how do we afford things?” but “what things should exist?”

Consider food. Most of what we eat is optimized for shelf life, transport, and profit margins. Not health or taste. When those constraints disappear, why would anyone choose inferior food? They wouldn’t. They’d grow exactly what they want.

The same logic applies everywhere. Furniture that fits your space perfectly. Medicine tailored to your genetics. Education customized to how you learn.

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