Serial entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban has some straightforward advice for young people aiming for success: embrace reading and learn to harness the power of artificial intelligence.
Cuban, speaking on the social media platform BlueSky, reflected on what he would do differently if he were 12 years old now. He stated it would involve two key habits. “When I talk to kids today and they ask me what I would do if I were 12 today, my answer is always the same, read books and learn how to use [artificial intelligence] in every way, shape and form you can,” the 66-year-old billionaire entrepreneur wrote. He emphasized the accessibility of AI, stating that, “It is a living library that gives you responses and can help no matter who you are or where you live.” Cuban added that all it takes is, “a smartphone, curiosity to experiment and a mindset to learn.”
Cuban’s emphasis on reading is a recurring theme in his advice. He has long advocated for the importance of being well-read and mentioned in 2018 that he dedicates “four to five hours a day” to it. He stated at the time, “I read everything I can. I don’t care what the source is.” This habit is common among many other highly successful entrepreneurs, including fellow billionaires Bill Gates and Richard Branson, who are both known for their commitment to reading.
The importance of AI is supported by the fact that, according to LinkedIn’s 2025 Work Change report, up to 70% of the skills used in most jobs could change rapidly due to the technology. However, the reality is that few young Americans are using AI regularly. In 2024, a study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Common Sense Media, and Hopelab, showed that only 11% of Americans aged 14 to 22 say they use generative AI once or twice a week.
Cuban has previously likened AI to the early days of personal computers, noting the potential advantages for future entrepreneurs. “You don’t necessarily have to be great at AI to start a company, but at some point, you’re going to have to understand it,” he stated in 2022 on “The Colin Cowherd Podcast.” He continued, “It’s just like the early days of PCs. You didn’t have to be good at PCs, but it helped. Then networks, then the internet, then mobile.”
It’s worth noting that Cuban has a financial stake in popularizing AI, as he has invested in multiple AI companies, including search engines DIRT and Samaya AI. Despite his involvement, he is not blind to the current limitations of the technology, and he’s stated that a dog possesses stronger problem-solving skills. “A dog can sense issues,” he said. “Nothing about a self-driving car understands what’s adversarial or not. If it hasn’t seen it, it has no idea. Whereas a dog is going to understand. I think smart puppies are smarter than AI is today or in the near future.”
Cuban believes it’s valuable for young people to get ahead of such developments within the business world. He said that if he were looking to earn extra money as a teenager, he would start a side hustle focused on writing AI prompts. “Then, I would go to businesses, particularly small- to medium-sized businesses that don’t understand AI yet,” he said. He added, “Doesn’t matter if I’m 16, I’d be teaching them as well.”
Disclosure: CNBC owns the exclusive off-network cable rights to “Shark Tank,” which features Mark Cuban as a panelist.
