‘AI offers path to billion-dollar one-person firms’

Politics Spice Special Features Education Sex & Relationship Interview Columns Opinion Advertise with us ‘AI offers path to billion-dollar one-person firms’ Business October 13, 2026 12:04 am Photo: Gemini AI

AI agents could enable individual entrepreneurs to build businesses worth billions of dollars by taking on tasks that traditionally require large teams, according to the United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Al Olama.

The emergence of autonomous AI systems is creating opportunities for individuals to expand their businesses, automate operations and compete with larger companies without having to increase their workforce at the same pace, Al Olama told participants at the just concluded Ai Everything Abu Dhabi.

Speaking during a session titled “Building the Government of the Future: Data, Agentic AI and a Shifting Global Order”, the minister predicted that AI-powered one-person companies could eventually become multimillion-dollar or even billion-dollar businesses.

For entrepreneurs, the development could change the economics of building and scaling a company, as AI agents increasingly take on tasks that would otherwise require employees across different functions. However, the scale of the opportunity will depend on how effectively businesses deploy the technology and convert productivity gains into revenue.

Al Olama argued that AI agents could help countries with smaller domestic markets compete economically with larger economies by expanding the capabilities of individuals and businesses.

For the UAE, he explained, the technology could multiply their ability, scale and impact, allowing the country to compete beyond the limits of its population and domestic market.

The prediction comes as businesses and governments explore agentic AI, a category of artificial intelligence designed to carry out tasks and execute multistep workflows with varying degrees of human supervision, rather than simply respond to prompts.

Unlike conventional generative AI tools that primarily produce text, images or computer code in response to instructions, AI agents can be configured to plan tasks, interact with software and use digital tools to achieve specific objectives. Their potential applications include customer service, research, software development and business operations.

The technology could lower some of the costs associated with starting and operating a business, although human oversight, computing infrastructure, access to customers and the ability to generate sustainable revenue will remain important constraints.

Beyond the prospect of AI-powered businesses, Al Olama argued that the economic benefits of artificial intelligence would increasingly depend on how quickly countries deploy the technology, rather than solely on where it is developed.

“The greatest economic and social benefits do not necessarily come from where technology is invented but from where it is embraced and applied,” he said.

He described the UAE’s approach as prioritising the practical deployment of AI to improve productivity, public services and quality of life, rather than measuring success only by technological breakthroughs.

“We want to be the fastest to market. We want to be the country and the cities that deploy AI to improve quality of life in the most effective way possible,” he added.

The argument has implications for economies that lack the research infrastructure and capital required to compete with leading AI developers. Such countries could still capture economic value by adopting existing models and integrating them into businesses, government services and other productive activities.

However, adoption alone does not guarantee economic gains. Businesses need the skills, digital infrastructure and organisational capacity to integrate AI into their operations, while governments face the challenge of establishing rules that address risks without unnecessarily restricting innovation.

Al Olama identified the relationship between regulators and technology developers as one of the factors shaping how governments respond to rapid technological change.

“The challenge that most governments have is that the innovator sits in the innovator’s section and the regulator in the regulator’s section, with no cross-pollination of thought and planning,” he said.

He said the UAE’s model allowed technology innovators to assume regulatory responsibilities while encouraging regulators to adopt an innovative mindset, noting that stronger collaboration would enable governments to respond more effectively to emerging technologies.

The minister also disclosed that the UAE was training around 80,000 government employees to become AI super users capable of building agents and leveraging advanced AI models.

“Our playbook is simple: every single person to ride this wave needs to understand this technology, needs to be able to utilise it, and needs to be able to benefit from it,” he stated.

The programme reflects a broader challenge for governments seeking to turn investment in artificial intelligence into measurable economic and social benefits: preparing workers to use the technology in their daily roles.

Al Olama argued that the ultimate measure of success should extend beyond productivity and economic output to the effect AI has on people’s lives.

“Our definition of winning is that you change the largest number of people’s lives positively by using artificial intelligence,” he said.

His remarks suggest that the next phase of AI competition could be shaped not only by the companies developing increasingly capable models but also by the entrepreneurs, workers and governments able to put those systems to productive use.

Justice has over three years experience spanning digital and print media. At The PUNCH, he currently covers the automobile sector with special interest in features and industry analysis.

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.