AI could create world's first trillionaire, and it might be just 'a dude in a basement': Shark Tank's Mark Cuban

Time of India

16-07-2025

Mark Cuban believes artificial intelligence can generate immense wealth. He says AI has the potential to create the world's first trillionaire. This person will harness AI in a novel way. Cuban compares AI's potential to the early days of PCs and the internet. He predicts AI will significantly improve lives. People will wonder how they ever lived without it.
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Artificial intelligence isn't just transforming industries — it could also make someone the richest person in history. Billionaire investor Mark Cuban believes that AI holds the key to creating the world's first trillionaire, thanks to its immense wealth-generating potential.While speaking during a recent episode of 'High Performance," Cuban said that person will be someone who is able to harness AI in a yet-to-be-discovered way, he added.'We haven't seen the best, or the craziest, of what [AI] is going to be able to do,' said the 66-year-old former 'Shark Tank' star. 'Not only do I think it'll create a trillionaire, but it could be just one dude in the basement. That's how crazy it could be.''Remember the early days of PCs and people were like, 'I don't need that. ... What's this internet thing? Why do we need it?' Then it was smartphones,' said Cuban. 'We'll find something equivalent for AI and then, five years [later] ... people will be like, 'How did I live without it?' People will make a lot of money.''I'm not saying we're going to get the Terminator,' he added. 'I'm not saying that all of a sudden, there are going to be robots that are smarter than people ... But we'll find ways to make our lives better.'Tech giants are in a fierce battle for top-tier AI talent, with companies like Meta and OpenAI offering eye-popping compensation packages to secure the brightest minds in the field.Meta has significantly ramped up its AI investments, focusing on generative AI and its Reality Labs division. In 2023, CEO Mark Zuckerberg called advanced AI development the company's 'single largest investment area.' Senior AI researchers at Meta are reportedly being offered total compensation packages ranging from $600,000 to over $1 million, including stock and bonuses, according to several media reports.OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has also become a major player in the race. Senior research engineers there receive base salaries between $200,000 and $370,000, with total compensation — including equity — often reaching $800,000 to $1 million (Levels.fyi, The Information). Many of these roles come with profit-sharing and early equity options, especially enticing as OpenAI's valuation continues to rise.This sharp surge in pay underscores a broader scramble among Big Tech firms to secure the talent driving advances in large language models, generative AI, and other emerging technologies. Analysts say these aggressive offers are not just about recruitment, but also about retaining key talent amid escalating poaching efforts across the industry.