Mark Evans MBA, CMgr FCMi

Recent research by NBER economists suggests these AI agents in particular, could drive a "Coasean singularity," a point where transaction costs fall towards zero, radically reshaping how markets function. In essence, tasks like finding information, negotiating deals, and enforcing contracts which are traditionally costly frictions in commerce, may become nearly instantaneous and costless.

This article focuses on data and technology. It reflects what we are seeing inside real organisations. It adds balanced advice so you can act without buying into hype. Why firms get stuck

Most leadership teams cannot articulate which they are pursuing. Or worse, they pursue all three simultaneously without acknowledging the different cultural infrastructures each requires. Productivity demands training and enablement. Automation requires trust and transparent communication about displacement. Opportunity needs permission to experiment and tolerance for failure. When you try to do all three at once without cultural foundations, you get confusion, resistance, and shadow AI adoption