Forget Job Loss, Think Job Creation
For years, the biggest fear around artificial intelligence has been job loss. Will robots replace us? Will AI take away opportunities for young people entering the workforce?
Billionaire investor and former Shark Tank star Mark Cuban says the truth is different. Gen Z, he argues, isn’t about to be replaced by AI; they’re about to be needed more than ever. Why? Because companies don’t actually know how to use the technology.
Companies Are Stumbling With AI
Cuban points to a surprising fact: around 95% of AI pilot projects inside companies are failing. Businesses are buying tools from OpenAI, Google, and others, but when it comes to putting them into practice, leaders are lost.
This leaves a huge gap in the market. And according to Cuban, it’s a gap Gen Z is perfectly placed to fill. But only if they move fast.
Gen Z’s New Job Description
“Learn to customize a model. Walk into a company. Show the benefits,” Cuban said in a recent interview. “That’s every single job for kids coming out of school.”
He advises high school and college students to use every bit of free time to master AI tools, whether that means learning how video generators like Sora and Veo work or figuring out how to apply AI to small businesses.
Why small businesses? Because, as Cuban explains, millions of companies with 5, 50, or even 500 employees won’t have AI budgets or in-house experts. They’ll need someone young, knowledgeable, and ready to step in.
AI Will Soon Be a Basic Skill
Cuban believes AI is on its way to becoming as essential as email or Excel. “If you’re not using it to move faster or make smarter decisions, you’re already behind,” he said.
He calls AI not just a tool but a lever. The people who learn how to apply it effectively will have a huge advantage over those who don’t. And in business, leverage changes everything.
Other CEOs Agree
It’s not just Cuban sounding the alarm. Apple’s Tim Cook has urged employees to roll out AI more quickly. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang has warned that jobs won’t be lost to AI itself, but to other humans who know how to use it better.
In short, those who embrace AI will rise. Those who ignore it? They’ll be left behind.
The Cliffhanger for Gen Z
Mark Cuban’s message is simple: Gen Z’s future isn’t about competing with AI, it’s about mastering it and teaching others how to use it.
The question is no longer “Will AI take jobs?” The real question is: Will Gen Z grab the chance to lead, or let someone else take it first?
