Artificial intelligence is transforming far more than software. It is reshaping economies, organizations, governance, and the very foundations of human cooperation.
In The Agent Economy: From Cryptocurrency to AI Civilization, Charles Tang takes readers beyond blockchain and digital currencies to explore the next stage of economic evolution. Beginning with cryptocurrency and digital trust, the book traces the emergence of AI agents, capability-based organizations, reputation economies, decision infrastructures, and Governable Trust-culminating in a practical vision of Web5 and AI civilization.
Rather than focusing solely on technology, this book asks a deeper question: How can increasingly intelligent societies remain trustworthy?
Combining engineering insight, economic analysis, systems thinking, and years of research into AI governance, this book offers a forward-looking framework for entrepreneurs, executives, engineers, policymakers, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand how trustworthy intelligence may transform the future of civilization.
Charles Tang is a renowned software technologist, entrepreneur, inventor, and independent researcher with decades of experience in advanced software systems, artificial intelligence, and distributed computing. A graduate of National Taiwan University and MIT, he founded software companies that supported critical U.S. government projects and holds numerous patents across multiple technology fields. His recent work focuses on explainable AI, AI governance, intelligent agents, quantum computing, and trustworthy AI systems. Through his books, he explores how emerging technologies can be combined with sound engineering, responsible governance, and enduring principles of wisdom to shape the future of AI civilization.