Mark Cuban Predicts AI Will Create World's First Trillionaire

Mark Cuban: The world's first trillionaire could be 'just one dude in the basement' who's great at using AI

Mark Cuban speaks onstage during the 2025 SXSW Conference and Festival at Hilton Austin on March 10, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Billionaire entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban says that artificial intelligence has the potential to generate more wealth for a single person than any individual has ever accumulated before. Specifically, Cuban predicts that AI will help create the world's first trillionaire, he said on a recent episode of the podcast "High Performance." 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." Currently, some people use generative AI to automate everyday tasks like making schedules and to-do lists. Others see AI as a virtual companion, guiding them on how to have difficult conversations or using them for personal reassurance. In the corporate world, Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright told Fortune on June 9 that AI tools had cut his company's hiring time by 75%. That's only the "preseason" of AI's capabilities, Cuban said. "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." There are a few problems that come with AI, like it's potential to displace jobs -- tech companies like Shopify and Fiverr are strongly urging their employees to learn AI skills, and Duolingo will gradually stop using contractors for tasks that can be completed by artificial intelligence People have also misused AI to carry out online scams and hoaxes, perpetrate cyber attacks and create and spread misinformation. AI also has a significant environmental impact, as data centers require a lot of energy and water to keep their processors cool and running smoothly. Researchers found that training a model like Open AI's GPT-3, for example, requires 1,287 megawatt hours of electricity, which is enough to power about 120 homes in the United States for a year. But given how quickly the technology is evolving, Cuban argues that you'll do yourself a disservice if you don't at least try to familiarize yourself with AI. "Download Gemini from Google. Download ChatGPT ... and just ask your questions about anything," he said. "But don't assume the answers are right. And when you find something you don't agree with, tell the AI you don't agree with it," to improve the bot's performance and address any biases it may have. "You have to realize that it's not actually thinking ... It's not actually smart," Cuban added. "But what it can do is find information and package it in a way that people can understand." Are you ready to buy a house? Take Smarter by CNBC Make It's new online course How to Buy Your First Home. Expert instructors will help you weigh the cost of renting vs. buying, financially prepare, and confidently navigate every step of the process -- from mortgage basics to closing the deal. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through July 15, 2025.

Billionaire Mark Cuban predicts 'who will be the world's first trillionaire?' And it is not Elon Musk

Billionaire entrepreneur and former "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban has made a bold prediction: the world's first trillionaire will not come from rockets or electric cars, but from artificial intelligence. Speaking on the "High Performance" podcast, Cuban said someone will harness AI in a yet-unknown way that could redefine wealth forever -- and it might just be "some dude in a basement." Cuban, who has long been vocal about emerging tech trends, explained that current uses of AI -- like virtual assistants, smart scheduling, and corporate hiring tools -- are just the beginning. "We haven't seen the best, or the craziest, of what [AI] is going to be able to do," he said, suggesting we are still in AI's "preseason." Comparing the current AI moment to the early days of personal computers and smartphones, Cuban believes that what seems optional or even silly today will soon become indispensable. "People were like, 'What's this internet thing? Why do we need it?'" he recalled. "Then five years later, people couldn't live without it. The same thing will happen with AI. People will make a lot of money." The real game-changer, Cuban said, won't necessarily be a corporation, but an individual innovator -- someone who discovers an AI application so impactful, it redefines entire industries. The explosive potential of AI isn't without warning signs. Cuban acknowledged the technology's darker sides: job displacement, misinformation, and environmental concerns. Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can now automate tasks that once required teams, while some companies, like Duolingo, are phasing out contractors altogether in favor of AI-powered workflows. Even training AI models can be resource-intensive. A study cited in Popular Mechanics reported that developing GPT-3 used enough electricity to power 120 homes in the U.S. for a year. Yet Cuban urged people not to fear the tech, but to engage with it critically and creatively. For those still unsure how to enter the AI space, Cuban had one simple recommendation: just start. "Download Gemini from Google. Download ChatGPT... ask your questions about anything," he advised. But he cautioned users not to assume the answers are correct. "It's not actually thinking... It's not actually smart," he added. "But what it can do is find information and package it in a way that people can understand." Ultimately, Cuban's vision is one of opportunity. AI, he says, is not about replacing people -- but about helping them unlock new levels of creativity, productivity, and wealth. And somewhere out there, maybe in a garage or basement, the future's first trillionaire might already be coding away.