The world is changing faster than you think

Express Tribune

06-02-2025

We are standing at the edge of one of the most profound economic and technological transformations in human history. Over the next six to ten years, we will witness the rapid acceleration of trends that have been quietly reshaping our world: monetary debasement, the transition to digital finance, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). These forces are not just economic; they are rewiring the global order itself.
If you think the world changed dramatically over the past two decades, you haven't seen anything yet. The pace of disruption is about to go into overdrive.
The Old Financial System is Running on Borrowed Time
The global financial system has been on life support since the 2008 crisis. That was the moment when it effectively went insolvent. Instead of allowing the system to reset, central banks intervened aggressively, printing trillions of dollars, pushing interest rates to zero, and propping up markets with artificial liquidity.
This has created a dangerous illusion. While stock markets, real estate, and bonds have soared in value, these gains are mostly the result of monetary expansion. When measured in gold, a true benchmark of value, real growth has been minimal. In other words, the system isn't actually producing more wealth; it's just printing more money to make it seem that way.
But this approach is running out of steam. The next phase of this transition will be digital. Governments and central banks are already preparing for a shift to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), state-controlled digital money that will replace cash.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin is emerging as the settlement asset of last resort in the new financial system, playing the role of digital gold. As the old system continues to be debased, Bitcoin is acting as a monetary sponge, absorbing excess liquidity and providing an alternative to traditional stores of value.
AI and Automation Will Drive Unstoppable Deflation
While money printing has created inflation in financial assets, another force, artificial intelligence, is about to unleash deflation in the real economy. AI is set to make industries dramatically more efficient, automating jobs, optimizing production, and reducing costs across every sector.
This is a pattern we've seen before. The Industrial Revolution lowered the cost of goods by mechanizing labor. The Internet Revolution made information nearly free. Now, AI will do the same for production, services, and even decision-making.
Here's what this means:
• Businesses will be able to produce more with fewer workers.
• Prices for goods and services will fall, making essentials cheaper.
• The traditional economic model, where wages and jobs define prosperity, will be disrupted.
We are heading into a paradoxical world where fiat currency is losing value due to monetary debasement, while AI-driven efficiency is making everything cheaper.
A Historic Shift: Similar to 1914-1945, But Even Faster
This kind of transformation has happened before. Between 1914 and 1945, the world moved from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy. That transition brought immense disruption, including two world wars, the Great Depression, and the collapse of old power structures.
Now, we are seeing a similar shift from the industrial economy to the AI-driven digital economy. But this time, it won't take 30 years. It's happening in a single decade.
In the coming years, we may see:
• A fully digital financial system, with cash becoming obsolete.
• AI replacing entire industries, forcing governments to rethink labor and income models.
• Bitcoin solidifying its role as the settlement asset of last resort in a digital financial system.
• A reordering of global power structures as technology outpaces regulation.
What Comes Next? Preparing for the Accelerated Future
Most people are unaware of just how quickly this transformation is unfolding. The next six to ten years will be the most disruptive period of our lifetimes. The old system is crumbling, and a new one is being built in real time.
This is not a drill.
We are moving into a world where digital money, AI-driven deflation, and technological acceleration will reshape the very fabric of society. There will be challenges—social unrest, economic shifts, and political turbulence—but also enormous opportunities for those who understand the changes ahead.
History has shown that every great economic shift brings winners and losers. Those who saw the Industrial Revolution coming were able to build empires. Those who ignored it were left behind.
The same is true today. The world is changing faster than you think, and within a decade, it will be unrecognizable.
Closing Thoughts: What's Coming in Part Two
This is just the beginning of a broader conversation. In the next part of this series, I will explore why traditional wealth preservation strategies are no longer viable and how individuals and institutions need to rethink asset allocation in a world where digital and decentralized finance are reshaping value.
Additionally, we'll discuss how this transformation presents a unique opportunity for frontier markets like Pakistan. Unlike industrialized nations that are locked into legacy systems, countries that have lagged behind in the industrial age now have a chance to leapfrog by adopting new technologies, just as we've seen in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, where bold technological adoption has positioned them at the forefront of digital transformation.
This is a time of both uncertainty and opportunity. The rules of the game are changing fast, and those who recognize the shifts early will be best positioned to thrive.
Stay tuned for Part Two.