[ehnto]

In some industries, prices will follow wealthier people as more profit will come from gouging those on the lucky side now much larger wealth divide, and the middle class will vanish.

You saw an example of this in ecommerce during the pandemic's economic upheaval. Luxury goods recorded increased sales, as did bottom of the barrel retailers. Services and items in the comfortable middle class we all deserve suffered decreases.

[neilwilson]

You're talking about scarcity. AI makes things more prevalent, not scarce. It becomes far easier and cheaper to do X.

Where's the monopoly coming from that allows price gouging?

[ehnto]

I was not talking about scarcity, I was talking about the perversions of markets in an increasing wealth gap. There is no scarcity of brand name clothes for example. It's only expensive because people with excess money choose to pay for it, but it cost cents to make and there is no mismatch between supply and demand, and it is often not better than cheaper clothing.

Why would you need a monopoly? They aren't competing on price. It's an irrational market.