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Entrepreneur and billionaire Mark Cuban recently expressed his strong belief in the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) in business. According to Cuban, starting a new venture centered around AI would be a priority if he were to launch a business today.
Speaking with former U.S. senator Jeff Flake during a forum at Arizona State University, Cuban emphasized that companies that embrace AI will excel, while those resistant to adopting this technology risk obsolescence. He likened this technological divide to the barriers faced by firms that failed to adapt to the rise of personal computers and the internet years ago.
“There will be two categories of companies: those adept in AI and those that become obsolete,” Cuban remarked, underscoring the growing gap between tech-savvy enterprises and their less adaptable counterparts.
Cuban drew parallels between current apprehensions surrounding AI and historical fears about the introduction of personal computers. Reflecting on his experiences as a software salesman in the 1980s, he recalled the skepticism people had about transitioning to computerized systems, stating, “People were terrified. They wondered why they would need secretaries if they could type things themselves.” Today, such hesitations appear outdated.
Despite widespread concerns about AI potentially displacing jobs, Cuban is confident that those who learn to navigate these advancements will gain a significant “competitive advantage.” He noted that while not all entrepreneurs need to master AI, a fundamental understanding is crucial as the technology continues to evolve.
“In the early days of PCs, you didn’t have to be an expert to utilize them effectively, but comprehension certainly gave you an edge,” he explained in a 2022 episode of “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.” As industries increasingly rely on AI, he believes familiarity with its principles will become indispensable.
These sentiments echo Cuban’s predictions from his 2017 talk at the SXSW Conference, where he stated that the first trillionaire would likely emerge from the AI sector. He has also invested millions into the Mark Cuban Foundation’s Intro to AI Bootcamps, established in 2019, to provide young individuals with free AI education to level the playing field in global competitiveness.
The initiative focuses on enhancing AI knowledge among underrepresented high school students, as Cuban noted that the most successful companies today—like Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia—are heavily investing in AI capabilities.
“Companies that effectively leverage AI are also those that dominate their sectors,” he stated. “This forms the basis of my investment strategy.” Cuban offered an example of AI’s efficacy in action through TikTok, highlighting how the platform’s algorithm captivates users by curating content that aligns with their interests.
With a reported net worth of $5.7 billion, Cuban has no pressing financial needs; however, he stated his entrepreneurial spirit would lead him to explore AI opportunities if he were starting anew. He mentioned that he would focus on mastering prompt writing for AI language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. This skill is gaining traction as a lucrative career path, with certain positions drawing six-figure salaries, according to job platform ZipRecruiter.
Reflecting on his childhood entrepreneurial ventures, Cuban asserted that if he were a teenager today, he would dedicate his efforts to learning AI skills with the goal of tutoring businesses, particularly those that are still unfamiliar with the technology. “I would approach small and medium-sized enterprises that haven’t yet grasped AI,” he mentioned, emphasizing the importance of disseminating knowledge in this area.
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