Perplexity CEO on AI has a blunt message for the younger generation: stop doomscrolling and start learning AI. In an interview with Matthew Berman, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas urged people to focus less on Instagram and more on mastering AI tools.
“Spend less time doomscrolling on Instagram; spend more time using the AIs,” Srinivas said. He warned that those who fail to adapt will fall behind. “People who really are at the frontier of using AIs are going to be way more employable than people who are not. That’s guaranteed to happen.”
AI is already reshaping the job market. Companies like Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce now use AI to automate coding and other tasks. As AI spreads, demand for human workers in certain roles will decrease. Srinivas believes that staying relevant means learning how to use AI effectively.
However, adapting to AI isn’t easy. “Human race has never been extremely fast at adapting,” Srinivas said. He explained that AI evolves every three to six months. This rapid pace challenges workers to keep up with the technology.
Some people will lose their jobs simply because they can’t keep up. But Srinivas sees opportunity. He believes new jobs won’t come from big companies but from entrepreneurs.
“Either the people who lose jobs start companies and use AIs, or they learn to use AIs and join new startups,” he said.
This perspective reflects broader industry fears. Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic, recently said AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs. AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton also warned that artificial intelligence may replace people doing routine intellectual work.
Not all leaders agree with the worst-case outlook. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes AI will transform work instead of destroying jobs. In his view, AI will take over repetitive tasks but create space for more creative and strategic roles.
Still, Perplexity CEO on AI believes adaptation is non-negotiable. He says young people must treat AI fluency like literacy. Those who learn how to use it will thrive.
The shift is already happening. AI now powers key business functions—from customer service to product development. Employers increasingly value AI skills. Workers without them may soon fall behind.
Srinivas urges urgency. AI is not just a trend—it’s the future foundation of work. Those who start now will be better prepared for the careers of tomorrow.
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