The Friction Economy: A Tale of Two Worlds

This essay explores the redistribution of 'friction' in today's economy. The digital world is nearly frictionless, with AI and other technologies eliminating cognitive resistance, but this comes at the cost of shifting friction onto the physical world and the workforce. The author points to the prevalence of AI cheating in college education and the decay of American infrastructure as reflections of this friction shift. The wealthy can use money to circumvent the friction of the physical world, creating 'curated worlds,' while the average person faces deteriorating infrastructure and working conditions. The essay concludes with a call to rethink economic models, directing effort toward sustainable systems rather than simply eliminating friction.