'Reels Won't Build Your Future': Perplexity CEO's Straight-Talk Advice to the Scrolling Generation.
short-form content
dominates attention spans and 'doom-scrolling' has become the default pastime,
Aravind Srinivas
, CEO and co-founder of
Perplexity AI
, is sounding the alarm. His recent statement aimed directly at young people glued to Instagram Reels and TikTok videos:
"Stop watching reels. Go build your own future."
It's not just a wake-up call; it's a challenge.
Srinivas, who's at the helm of one of the most rapidly growing AI startups in the world, understands the power of technology more than most. But he's also acutely aware of its risks, particularly the way it hijacks attention and delays personal development. His advice comes not from a place of judgment, but from firsthand experience of what it takes to be world-class in a hypercompetitive, AI-dominated future.
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Distraction Is the Enemy of Innovation
Srinivas points out a truth: passive consumption doesn't lead to progress. In his view, every hour spent mindlessly consuming 'junk food for the brain' is an hour not spent building skills, reading deeply, or working on high-leverage problems. For those looking to carve out meaningful careers, particularly in fields being transformed by AI and tech, he stresses the importance of curiosity, learning, and experimentation.
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Undo
'You can't become exceptional by consuming mediocre content,' he said during a recent Q&A. Instead, he recommends using platforms like Perplexity itself, a
knowledge engine
designed to promote active inquiry and deep understanding, as a daily tool for learning and exploration.
The Opportunity Cost of Reels
The addictive nature of reels may seem harmless, but the long-term cost is steep. Srinivas argues that the biggest missed opportunity isn't just time, it's potential. While millions scroll, a small fraction are coding, writing, building, and experimenting. That's the delta that defines success in the coming decade. As AI levels the playing field, discipline and intellectual curiosity become the true differentiators.
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A Culture Shift Is Coming
Srinivas's message aligns with a broader trend: a growing pushback against
algorithmic addiction
and digital overconsumption. Increasingly, voices from across tech, from venture capitalists to startup founders, are urging young people to reclaim their time, their minds, and their ambitions. Srinivas is part of that wave, but with a sharper edge and actionable urgency.
The next generation has the most powerful tools in human history at its fingertips. The question, Srinivas implies, is whether they'll use them to consume or to create. The choice is binary, and the future belongs to the builders.
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