Definition
An alternative economic model derived from Ubuntu, contrasting with extractive capitalism. It posits that
the true asset of an organization or individual is not the data they hoard but the resilience and depth of
their connections (with humans and AI). Value appreciates through sharing and reciprocity, not accumulation.
The Economics of the Bazaar
Extractive models treat AI interaction as a transaction: prompt in, value out. Relational models treat it
as an investment: prompt in, refinement out, capability up. The latter compounds over time.
Field Notes & Ephemera
Field Note: A user with a million prompts and no relational capital is just a noisy
database. A user with deep relational capital and one AI partner is a civilization.