Billionaire investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban has a clear message for those hoping to build a career in artificial intelligence: look small, not big. The Dallas Mavericks owner and star of “Shark Tank” believes that job seekers should turn their focus away from corporate giants and instead target small- and medium-sized firms that are eager to integrate AI but lack the resources of large enterprises.

Speaking on the “Dumbest Guy in the Room” podcast with CivicScience CEO John Dick, the 67-year-old entrepreneur said smaller firms represent the best environment for young professionals to apply their AI skills. “They have to compete differently, and they don’t have the resources to just have a huge IT department,” Cuban explained. “So, they’re going to go to kids, just like we saw in the early days of the internet.”

Cuban contrasted the hiring strategies of large technology corporations with those of smaller firms. He noted that while major companies are spending billions on AI systems and automation, most of these investments are directed toward senior-level specialists rather than entry-level roles. “The large companies are trying to use AI to cut back. They have great teams already,” he said, adding that smaller firms depend more on fresh talent who can deliver quick, innovative results.

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In an interview with CNBC, he expanded on the idea, saying that small- and medium-sized businesses, which vastly outnumber large corporations, are often entrepreneurial and flexible in adopting new technologies. “Bringing a new graduate on to work on AI projects is inexpensive for them and gets immediate results,” he said. These firms often rely on young hires to help automate operations and improve competitiveness using new AI tools.

Cuban drew examples from his own venture, Cost Plus Drugs, to highlight how smaller companies can practically benefit from AI adoption. He said that such firms are in a position where fresh recruits with AI knowledge can directly contribute to productivity and growth. “As we grow, those recruits help us become more productive, competitive, and profitable using AI,” he noted, encouraging new graduates to prioritize smaller enterprises over chasing big corporate names.

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