Who will become the world's first 'trillion dollar' billionaire?

A few years ago, amid the public attention on tech giants like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, Mark Cuban made a forward-thinking statement at the 2017 SXSW Conference. He declared that the world’s first trillionaire would not come from the traditional tech sector, but from an artificial intelligence pioneer. “The world’s first trillionaires will come from people who master AI and all its derivatives and apply it in ways we’ve never thought of,” he said.

TY PHU — Mark Cuban at SXSW 2017 (Photo: Bloomberg)

At the time, AI was just beginning to show its potential, making Cuban's prediction seem more like science fiction than a foreseeable reality.

Fast forward to today, and while Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are still locked in a trillion-dollar race, the tech world’s focus has shifted to the vast possibilities of AI. Cuban’s insights into AI as a means of creating unprecedented wealth and opportunity resonate more than ever. This shift has widened the race, with new competitors being established tech titans or even leaders in AI innovation.

Cuban emphasized the limitless potential of AI in creating wealth, suggesting that the “world’s first trillionaire” will leverage AI in new, disruptive ways. The future he envisions is not just using AI, but mastering it to invent something revolutionary beyond our current imagination.

This vision heralds a new era of entrepreneurs who look beyond current applications of AI to radically transform industries. Healthcare will be revolutionized by AI-powered diagnostics, or logistics will be enhanced by AI systems that optimize global trade. Advances in general AI, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, are reshaping the expectations and applications of AI, enhancing productivity tools and reshaping the customer service industry.

TYPE — AI is having a clear impact on every aspect of human life (Photo: Codept)

The development of artificial intelligence is making this technology more accessible. These technologies are not only for tech-savvy people but are increasingly being applied in everyday life.

Cuban’s once speculative prediction now reflects a broader theme in the tech industry, with AI at its core. As artificial intelligence continues to advance at breakneck speed, established tech giants are facing a new wave of innovation. AI’s potential to transform wealth creation, industries, and everyday life is undeniable.

Investing in startups offers the opportunity to get in on potentially disruptive projects early on. Giants like Tesla and Amazon started out as small startups, and investing early in promising AI or other innovative areas can pay off handsomely in the future.

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