I Shop Therefore I Am: The Artificial Consumer

Abstract

Can Artificial Intelligence replace humans not only as producers of goods and content, but also as consumers of commodities? AI agents have so far been associated mainly with the production of goods and content—that is, supply—which is only one side of economic processes. The other side is consumption, which drives demand. Is an Artificial Consumer (AC) conceivable? Can artificial consumers support a human–artificial hybrid artificial economy? Could such an economy help increase GDP? Such questions require exploration of the connection between consciousness, consumption, value, economics, and AI. This admittedly speculative paper discusses the potential consequences of introducing artificial consumers. What place would be left in the economic system for humans if AI took over both supply and demand? The final frontier for AI could be our economy: I shop therefore I am.