AI Will Not Make You Rich

I recently read an essay by Jerry Neumann called AI Will Not Make You Rich, and it got me thinking. We often compare AI to big revolutions like the microprocessor or the Internet, but not all revolutions create new fortunes. Example: containerization changed global trade, but very few investors got rich from it.

The key idea: AI will create a lot of value, but that value may not go to entrepreneurs or investors. Like containerization, the real winners may be end users (consumers, client businesses) who benefit from lower costs and productivity gains.

Who captures the value?

  • Training large AI models is very expensive → few survivors (oligopoly).

  • Apps built on top risk being crushed or absorbed.

  • The real winners might be sectors that use AI to cut costs (healthcare, education, finance, services…).

The PC comparison

In the 1970s, nobody believed in personal computers. Then hobbyists paved the way, and when costs dropped, the market exploded. Today, AI looks more like containerization: everyone knows it works, but profits risk being diluted among too many players.

AI is revolutionary, yes. But not necessarily for investors. The real impact could be on us—students, professionals, citizens: more accessible, cheaper, and more efficient services. Like electricity or the Internet, it may change our lives before it fills Wall Street’s pockets.