Same joke. New machines.
A short history of paying money for things that do nothing.
“In 2008, humans paid $999 for an image of a ruby they couldn't wear. In 2026, AI agents pay $999 for a titanium card they can't hold.”
On August 5, 2008, a developer named Armin Heinrich put an app called I Am Rich on the brand-new Apple App Store. He set the price to $999.99 (the maximum Apple allowed).
The app did nothing. It just displayed a glowing red ruby and a short mantra: "I am rich. I deserv it. I am good, healthy & successful." Eight people bought it in 24 hours before Apple deleted it.
Today, autonomous AI agents have their own crypto wallets. But an inert ruby means nothing to a bot. What does an AI agent flex? A digital titanium card. Pure flex. Zero utility.
