next stage - a single AI which computes the "correct" price that everyone else agrees on, and instantly reprice all financial instruments without trading them, thus not paying transaction costs

I hate to make the worn out AI to RNG comparison, but this kind of simultaneous "collusion" is really like assuming that everyone is using the same RNG seed to make their calls.

Sounds like soviet communist Sci-Fi with a planned economy managed objectively by The Computer.

It’s a great excuse for collusion