Cuban: AI is the New Business Baseline
Billionaire investor predicts AI fluency will be as essential as email in five years
Mark Cuban foresees a future where artificial intelligence isn’t just a tool, but a fundamental skill. He believes AI proficiency will soon be as critical for professionals as mastering email or Excel is today.
AI as a Business Essential
For business owners, Cuban asserts that AI competence will become a non-negotiable expectation. How effectively entrepreneurs leverage this technology, he explained in an email exchange with Fortune, will directly determine their future success. Within a decade, he anticipates AI assistants will significantly boost individual productivity, enabling “solo founders to become full teams.”
“If you’re not using [AI] to move faster or make smarter decisions, you’re behind.”
—Mark Cuban
Cuban views AI not merely as a skill to acquire but as a team member an entrepreneur can strategically invest in to foster growth. He emphasizes that the most successful entrepreneurs will be those who understand how to properly implement AI.
ZenBusiness Launches AI Assistant to Empower Entrepreneurs
The investor, who has a financial stake in ZenBusiness, a platform that has assisted over 850,000 small businesses, highlighted the company’s new AI agent, “Velo.” Launched this week, Velo is designed to automate critical business functions such as regulatory filings, market research, and website development.
ZenBusiness CEO and Founder Ross Buhrdorf described Velo as a “24/7 advisor” that provides personalized guidance using data submitted through user portals, at no extra cost. Cuban likened AI agents like Velo to having a “VP of ops, your first sales rep, your data analyst, and your legal counsel rolled into one, minus the payroll.” However, he cautioned entrepreneurs to treat AI like “your smartest intern: ask the right questions, but always double-check the answers.”
Overcoming Entrepreneurial Hurdles with AI
New business applications in 2024 saw a slight decrease from the previous year, with 5.12 million filings compared to 2023’s record 5.5 million. Despite this dip, entrepreneurial interest remains robust. Cuban identified “fear and funding” as the primary obstacles for aspiring business owners.
He believes AI agents can democratize entrepreneurship by mitigating the high costs associated with building a team. “AI isn’t just a tool, it’s leverage,” Cuban stated. “The most successful entrepreneur will understand how to properly use AI.” He concluded that AI will serve as a “multiplier,” empowering entrepreneurs rather than replacing them, advising, “Use it, but don’t be used by it.”
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that while pandemic-related factors like stimulus and remote work fueled record entrepreneurial activity in recent years, the drive to start new ventures continues. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses with fewer than 20 employees are responsible for creating a significant portion of new jobs in the United States each year.
