The Autonomous Economy Is Coming for the Middlemen
By Tanvir Newaz
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What happens when AI and autonomous machines eliminate the interface between customers and companies?
Uber and Lyft historically own the relationship between passengers and drivers. Waymo owns autonomous driving technology. Tesla wants to combine autonomous vehicles with its enormous installed vehicle base.
The strategic battle therefore isn't simply: "Who builds the best self-driving car?"
It's: Who owns the customer when the driver disappears?
You can extend it beyond transportation: Travel agents → AI travel agents. Search engines → AI answer engines. Recruiters → AI hiring agents. Customer service → AI agents. Delivery platforms → autonomous logistics.
When machines become the workers, who owns the customer?
