In this episode, I explore a simple but important question: why do commodities exist? We often focus on abstract things such as AI, social media, brands, finance, and information. Yet beneath all of these systems lies a physical foundation—energy, metals, food, water, and raw materials. No matter how advanced technology becomes, civilization still depends on resources that must be mined, transported, processed, and consumed. I discuss why commodities remain essential in the digital age, why AI ultimately leads us back to mines and power plants, and how commodities force us to confront the physical realities behind modern civilization.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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