Mark Cuban Says AI-Skilled Kids Will Be Best Equipped To Lead

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban believes that children who learn to use artificial intelligence effectively will have an advantage in the future workplace. He argues that students who master AI tools — and pair them with solid critical-thinking skills — will become stronger creators, problem-solvers, and leaders.

Cuban: AI Fluency Drives Better Work And Bigger Thinking

Cuban told CNBC that students who work with AI “will produce better. They’ll be more creative and gain a collaborative relationship with technology that’s needed in the future workplace.” He emphasized that the goal is not to replace reasoning with automation, but to use AI to deepen understanding.

The students who benefit most, he said, are those who learn to “ask the right questions,” build strong prompts, and evaluate AI-generated results with skepticism. “AI helps students think bigger, but it doesn’t make decisions,” Cuban noted.

Teachers See Value — But Also Risks

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow 2025 AI Readiness Study found broad educator support for AI literacy: 88% of surveyed U.S. public school teachers believe AI skills are important for students’ long-term success. Yet 81% worry that heavy reliance on AI could weaken critical-thinking abilities.

Many educators remain cautious about academic integrity and model accuracy. AI systems can hallucinate, and generative tools make it easier to create misleading content such as synthetic images or altered audio. These concerns have slowed classroom adoption, despite strong interest.

Access Remains A Major Barrier

Cuban argues that limited access to AI tools is one of the largest challenges. Many schools lack the infrastructure or training to introduce AI effectively and responsibly. To address this, Cuban and entrepreneur Emma Grede are partnering with Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative.

The program plans to distribute $2 million in technology and AI training resources to 500 U.S. schools in 2026. The goal is to narrow the access gap and help educators guide students in ethical, practical AI use.

Without widespread access, Cuban warns, students miss the opportunity to develop skills that employers will increasingly expect.

AI As A Learning Coach

Some education experts share Cuban’s optimism. Psychologist Angela Duckworth told graduates at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education that AI can be a powerful teaching tool. She described AI assistants as a type of “coach,” adding that ChatGPT “has a hidden pedagogical superpower. It can teach by example.”

Preparing For A New Workforce

Cuban often compares today’s AI transition to the early days of computers and the internet. He encourages students to spend time experimenting with current models, practicing prompt engineering, and learning how to tailor systems to specific tasks.

“Every single company needs that,” Cuban said on a recent podcast. He noted that AI integration is not intuitive for most organizations, creating high demand for workers who can bridge technical and business needs. “That is going to be jobs left and right.”