Strong arguments for getting rich before AGI
Your financial position when AGI hits could be your socioeconomic class forever
The bellwether for what the world will talk about in 3-5 years is listening to your friends from Silicon Valley talk about today. They used to talk about accumulating bitcoin in 2012, biohacking in 2017, and AI in 2020 in weird underground meetups.
These days, they are talking about accumulating capital before AGI hits because your financial position at the moment AGI hits could end up being where you stay forever.
What Happens When AGI Arrives?
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents the inflection point where AI becomes better than humans at nearly all forms of knowledge work - software development, data analysis, customer service, design, and more. Human labor, which has historically provided leverage around the world, will suddenly lose much of its value.
Instead, the real leverage will come from capital to own GPUs and electricity to run them. All knowledge work will become a downstream effect of this computing power, where more GPUs will output more knowledge work. This fundamental shift means people would no longer be valued as on their mental or physical power but in terms of access to wealth to fund GPUs and electricity in a post-AGI world.
Early Warning Signs Are Already Here
We don’t need to wait for full AGI to see these dynamics taking shape. The signs are already visible:
Entry-level jobs are vanishing. Stanford’s Canaries in the Coal Mine study (2025) found a 13% decline in employment for 22-25 year olds in AI-exposed roles, while Handshake reports 15% fewer entry-level postings but 30% more applications for each remaining role.
The generational divide is widening. Wages for older workers remain stable, but young people are bearing the brunt of AI displacement in fields like software engineering, data analysis, and creative work.
Coupled with the compounding nature of a capitalistic society, this divide will only get worse and become a permanent feature of our society.
Top companies preparing for the post-AGI world
Leading AI companies understand that compute is becoming the ultimate differentiator. This explains why OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, and others are raising billions, not for talent or innovation alone, but to build massive data centers. Whoever owns compute will own the future of work.
Unlike human workers, AI doesn’t care about company culture, benefits, or location. It only needs electricity flowing through GPUs. In this winner-take-all battle, companies will pay whatever it takes to secure their position in the post-AGI economy.
Reasons for Hope and Caution
The optimistic scenario suggests humans will remain essential at the leading edge - prompting AI systems, orchestrating complex workflows, and verifying results. But we may need only 1 person to do the work of 10 people. This leads to the Global GDP increasing dramatically, potentially funding government programs like Universal Basic Income to address AI-created inequalities. However, this assumes both political will and successful wealth redistribution outcomes that history suggests are far from guaranteed.
What You Should Do Now to navigate a post-AGI world
Given how rapidly these changes are accelerating, focus on two critical areas:
Accumulate capital. Many in Silicon Valley feel an urgent need to build wealth before AGI arrives, recognizing that today’s financial position may become tomorrow’s permanent status.
Master AI tools. Start using these systems to augment your efficiency at work. The future belongs to generalists who can effectively orchestrate AI capabilities rather than specialists in narrow domains.
The Stakes
AGI will bring massive economic and cultural transformation. While we can debate whether it will create new types of jobs or simply reduce overall employment, one hedge remains clear: accumulating capital and AI fluency before the transition accelerates.
👉 What do you think? Hit reply and let me know your take. And if i can support you in any ways