The promise of automation in AI claims that fewer people would be employed on companies that rely on knowledge workers. Many processes can be outsourced, but many have to be done in-house.

But maybe with AI agents, we'll be able to run companies with fewer and fewer people.

The question begs that if that number is going to reach one, while the company is able to reach the valuation of $1 billion with only having a headcount of one.

This will include the usage of all sort of robotics for work that has to be done in the real world, and AI agents for knowledge work.

Will there be a publicly traded billion dollar company in the US, New York exchange that is operated by only one person before January 1st, 2040?

Resolution Criteria:

This question will resolve to "Yes" in all caps. If before January 1st, 2040, a billion-dollar company in the US with only one person in their payroll fulfills the following criteria:

1. The company must have started with only one person and never hired anyone on full-time payroll, other than the founder.

2. It cannot be accompanied in finance.

3. The company did not outsource any of their core activities.

4. This is a company fully traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

5. It complies with all SEC regulations.