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Billionaires are so excited to replace employees with AI, but who is gonna buy their stuff when we are all unemployed and broke?

· 5 min read

In a world where the rich are building AI-powered shopping carts that will replace every human cashier, we’re left wondering: What’s going to pay for the stuff the AI will buy?
Below is a satirical take on the latest Reddit thread that has the internet buzzing—because nothing says “future of work” like a bunch of billionaires planning to replace us all with bots, while the rest of us watch our wallets shrink faster than a toddler’s appetite at a pizza party.

“Billionaires are so excited to replace employees with AI, but who is gonna buy their stuff when we are all unemployed and broke?”

The Big Picture (the "TL;DR" for the over‑worked)​

  • The top 10 % of the U.S. earners spend half of the country’s consumer dollars, so if AI takes the middle class out of the equation, the economy might still run—on a very small budget.
  • Luxury boxes in stadiums and arenas are proof that the “new normal” is more exclusivity and less general admission.
  • Russia’s oligarchs are already living in a world without a middle class, and the rest of us are just the “poors” in the new AI‑dominated economy.
  • The plan? Kings (the billionaires) and pawns (the rest) with AI in the middle—because why not outsource the boring parts of the power structure too?

TL;DR – Billionaires love AI, but if we’re all unemployed, the only people buying their gadgets are the AI bots themselves.

1. The “Upper 10 %” Club​

Picture this: the elite 10 % of Americans are now spending 60 % of all consumer dollars. That’s like a family of 10 spending the entire household budget while the other 90% just wait in line for a free toothbrush.

  • Reality Check: If this trend continues, the economy will look a lot like a luxury cruise ship—smooth sailing for the few, with the majority left moored in the harbor.
  • The AI Angle: Imagine every cashier, barista, and ticket seller replaced by a chatbot that’s faster than your Wi‑Fi and cheaper than your rent. The result? Jobs vanish, but the dollar still circulates—mostly because the wealthy are still rich enough to buy the same stuff.

“If it keeps going that way, it will mean certain sectors of the economy will chug along just fine without the other 90% of us.”

2. Stadiums of the Future​

You’ve seen the trend: stadiums are swapping general admission seats for luxury boxes. The message? “We’re going to keep the fans, but only the ones who can afford it.”

  • Video Evidence: A 3‑minute clip from the WSJ shows how stadiums are turning into private clubs for the 1%.
  • AI’s Role: A robot concierge will greet you in the box, order your drinks, and remind you that your seat is “exclusively reserved for your 1% status.”

“Look at NFL stadiums and NBA arenas. More luxury boxes, less general admission, its a perfect explanation of what's happening.”

3. Russia’s Oligarchic Reality Show​

In Russia, the oligarchy has already perfected the “no middle class” scenario. If you’re not a billionaire, you’re basically a background character in their reality show.

  • Economic Implication: This is a real‑world case study of an economy that works without a middle class—except for the fact that everyone else is still struggling to get by.
  • AI Takeover: Even the oligarchs are starting to ask “Can AI replace my personal assistant?” The answer is probably “Yes, but only if you have a budget to pay for it.”

“Just look at Russia where they're run by the oligarchy. There's no more middle class, you have the rich, and then you have the poors.”

4. Kings, Pawns, and AI​

The ultimate strategy? Think of a chessboard where the kings are billionaires, the pawns are everyday workers, and AI is the grandmaster controlling the board.

  • What Happens: The pawns get moved—or removed—while the kings keep the board under their thumb.
  • AI’s Sweet Spot: The AI doesn’t care about the pawn’s well‑being; it just cares about efficiency.

“This is the plan imo. Kings and pawns with AI in the middle. No troublesome middle class.”

5. The “Future” of Earnings​

When the next quarterly earnings report drops, the only thing that might be left to read will be how much the AI spent on coffee for the executives.

  • Short‑Term Reality: While the middle class waits for the next paycheck, the AI will have already paid its own wages.
  • Long‑Term Outlook: If AI continues to replace workers, we’ll need to figure out how to pay the AI—maybe by letting them “earn” through ad revenue or by creating a universal basic AI stipend.

“That's a problem for later, next quarters earnings is as far ahead as they look.”

TL;DR (Because Even We Need a TL;DR)​

Billionaires are building AI to replace workers, but if the middle class disappears, the only people buying their fancy gadgets are the AI themselves. Meanwhile, stadiums become private clubs, Russia proves a middle class doesn’t exist, and the ultimate power structure is kings, pawns, and an AI grandmaster. The bottom line: if the AI is paid, the rest of us might still be broke.

Disclaimer: This article was written with comedic intent and is not a financial forecast or a policy recommendation. For actual advice, consult a qualified professional.