Mark Cuban, the celebrated entrepreneur and investor famous for his role on Shark Tank, recently shared his insights on the promising landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) for younger generations. In a discussion with AI consultant Dean Isenberg, shared on Instagram on April 12, 2025, Cuban asserted that this is an exceptional moment for young adults, particularly those from Generation Z, to harness the potential of AI.
“If I were 16 right now, if I was 18, if I was 20, if I was 21, 24, 25, whatever, every minute that I had available to me, I would be learning about AI,”
Cuban highlighted that younger individuals are positioned to lead in this evolving field, as older generations, such as Baby Boomers and Generation X, often lag in their understanding of AI technologies. With his extensive background across various sectors, including technology and sports, Cuban continues to advocate for AI education.
Gen-Z’s Unique Advantage in AI Learning
During his conversation with Isenberg, Cuban emphasized the unique opportunities available to Gen-Z amidst rapid technological advancements.
“Boomers don’t know AI. Gen X doesn’t know AI. Millennial generation doesn’t know AI. Gen Z and younger, y’all have the best chance ever to live the American dream because every single minute of every day, right now as I’m speaking, there is new technology coming out that creates opportunities for you because it creates change.”
He underscored that reluctance among older generations to engage with new technologies often hampers their advancement. This creates a fertile ground for younger individuals who are eager to learn, allowing them to capitalize on a transformative economy.
“When there’s change, there’s opportunity. And when the people who are in charge are afraid and don’t understand the new stuff, oh my God,”
Cuban identified specific branches of artificial intelligence that he believes young learners should explore, including generative AI, text-to-video AI, music AI, creativity AI, and agentic AI.
Exploring AI’s Creative Capacities
On March 25, 2025, Cuban expressed to Business Insider that although AI can greatly enhance productivity, it cannot substitute for human creative thinking.
“AI is not going to, you know, hit your bank account and produce a movie for you, produce a podcast or whatever,”
In a discussion on the YMH podcast, he reinforced that human oversight is crucial for significant creative decisions. Cuban believes that AI should be embraced as a supplemental creative tool rather than a complete replacement for human input.
“I think AI is just one more creative tool,”
he told Business Insider. “It’s like a writing or creative partner, but not a decision-maker.”
Cuban pointed out that intuition and timing are vital components of creativity, qualities that machines cannot replicate. He cautioned against companies over-relying on AI in content production due to potential inefficacies.
Sharing insights from past experiences, Cuban highlighted that companies that depended solely on data analytics to determine entertainment releases often faced failures. He argued that attempting to replace the human element entirely with AI, while appealing, is ultimately unsustainable.
In a post on BlueSky from early April 2025, Cuban addressed young audiences directly. When asked what he would focus on if he were a 12-year-old today, he replied:
“Read books and learn how to use [artificial intelligence] in every way, shape, and form you can.”
Cuban encouraged individuals with smartphones and a desire to learn to start experimenting with AI tools. According to him, the key is a willingness to explore and adapt.
The prominent investor also values reading, integrating it as a key part of his daily routine. In a 2018 interview with CNBC Make It, he mentioned his commitment to reading widely, asserting that this habit, in conjunction with a strong understanding of AI, builds an excellent foundation for future opportunities.
For fans of entrepreneurship and investment, Shark Tank continues to air every Friday at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.