TL;DR: We are entering an era of unprecedented "Technical Deflation." As AI Agents and robotics (like Tesla's Optimus) drive the cost of production and execution to near zero, the cost of goods will plummet. This is paradise for consumers but an apocalypse for the workforce. If your career strategy is still "Work Hard, Save Money, Buy Property," you are fighting a war on the wrong battlefield.
James here, CEO of Mercury Technology Solutions. Hong Kong - January 24, 2026
I often hear people ask, "Will AI create inflation?" They have it backward. What I am seeing on the horizon is the exact opposite: A massive, structural Technical Deflation.
Because of AI, the cost of intelligence is dropping to zero. Because of Robotics (projected 2028), the cost of physical labor is dropping to zero.
When everything becomes cheaper and productivity explodes, the economic physics change. This is a double-edged sword.
- For the Consumer: It is a Golden Age. Goods and services cost pennies.
- For the Employee: It is a disaster. If you sell "time" or "routine labor" for a living, your market value is evaporating.
1. The 60-Second Economy
Consider the friction we used to pay for. In the past, buying a complex insurance policy or finding the perfect supplier took days of human effort. Today, an AI Agent can research, negotiate, and execute that transaction in 60 seconds.
When friction disappears, the "jobs" associated with that friction disappear too.
- The middleman? Gone.
- The administrative assistant? Gone.
- The junior analyst? Gone.
We are moving from an economy of "Big Fish Eat Little Fish" to "Fast Fish Eat Slow Fish." Speed is the only currency that matters.
2. The Optimus Event (2028)
The next shockwave is physical. We are tracking the progress of Tesla's Optimus and competing humanoid robots. By 2028, we expect a crossover point where the Labor Value of a robot exceeds that of a human.
When a robot can fold laundry, assemble a car, or restock a warehouse cheaper and 24/7, what happens to the salary of the human doing the same job? You simply cannot ask the market to pay you $5,000 a month for labor that a machine does for $50 a month in electricity and maintenance.
3. The "Old Script" is Broken
This is the most dangerous part for Hong Kong and Asian professionals. We were raised on a specific script:
- Study hard.
- Get a stable job.
- Exchange labor for salary.
- Save money to buy property.
This script assumes that "Labor" maintains its value. In a Technical Deflation scenario, the value of labor collapses. If you follow the old script, you might work yourself to death only to realize you were fighting on a battlefield that no longer exists.
4. What Needs to Be Done? (The Pivot)
If you want to survive the era of Technical Deflation, you must shift your identity.
A. Move from "Laborer" to "Owner"
You cannot win by selling your time. You must own the assets that generate the productivity.
- Own the AI workflow.
- Own the business equity.
- Own the Intellectual Property. Don't be the person digging the hole; be the person who owns the excavator.
B. Cultivate "Human" Premiums
If AI brings the cost of competence to zero, the value of connection goes to infinity.
- Empathy: The ability to make someone feel understood.
- Taste: The ability to curate and choose what to make.
- Leadership: The ability to rally humans toward a vision. These are the only things that cannot be deflated.
C. Embrace Leverage
Stop trying to do everything yourself. Use AI to do the work of 10 people. The winners of this era will be "One-Person Unicorns"—individuals who use a fleet of AI Agents to run massive operations with zero headcount.
Conclusion: The Rules Have Changed
The game is no longer about how hard you can work. It is about how fast you can adapt.
If you are still banking on "selling your hands and eyes" to pay the mortgage, you are in trouble. But if you can position yourself as the Architect of Intelligence, this is the greatest opportunity in human history.
Don't let the speed of the fish eat you. Be the shark.
Mercury Technology Solutions: Accelerate Digitality.
