AI isn’t the future—it’s already the default. Young professionals who learn to use it now will lead tomorrow. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas says it’s time to stop scrolling and start building.
Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity AI, didn’t mince words when he advised young professionals to spend less time on Instagram and more time mastering artificial intelligence. His reasoning is straightforward: the future of work belongs to those who can understand and leverage AI tools. And those who can’t? They risk falling behind fast.
This isn’t just a catchy soundbite. Srinivas is pointing to a seismic shift already underway in the job market. AI isn’t a “nice-to-have” anymore. It’s quickly becoming the default mode of operation across industries, from finance and journalism to design and HR. The tools are here. The expectations are rising. And the window to catch up is closing.
AI Tools Are the New Excel
We’re in a moment similar to the early 2000s when Excel proficiency became essential for most jobs. Today, tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and Bard are the new productivity engines. They write, calculate, analyze, summarize, and even ideate. Knowing how to prompt them effectively is becoming as fundamental as typing.
Srinivas put it bluntly: those using AI are more employable. Why? Because they’re not just doing work—they’re amplifying output. One person with the right AI workflow can match the productivity of a small team. That’s not exaggeration; it’s already happening.
The Job Market Is Already Changing
In interviews, Srinivas has warned that many traditional white-collar roles—like executive assistants, paralegals, and entry-level researchers—could be replaced by AI within the next few years. In some sectors, that shift is already visible. Recruiters now use AI to filter resumes. Marketing teams draft campaigns with AI. Founders run leaner startups because bots can handle basic customer service and documentation.
The result? Youth without AI skills may be shut out of entire categories of work.
Doomscrolling vs. Doing
It’s easy to lose hours on social media. But Srinivas argues that time could be spent building real career equity. Every hour spent mastering AI tools compounds in value. You’re not just learning software; you’re learning how to think differently, solve problems faster, and create more with less.
Young leaders who recognize this early will have the edge. Not just in hiring, but in leadership. The ability to manage AI workflows, evaluate AI-driven insights, and guide teams in adapting to automation is becoming as important as communication or critical thinking.
What You Can Do Now
Start with the basics. Get familiar with tools like:
- ChatGPT or Claude for writing, summarizing, and brainstorming.
- Perplexity AI for research and quick-answer generation.
- Runway or Midjourney for AI-powered media creation.
- GitHub Copilot or Replit for coding help.
Then go deeper. Take free online courses. Join AI hackathons. Share what you’re building or learning. The point isn’t to become a data scientist overnight. It’s to develop working fluency.
You don’t need to invent the next big AI company. You just need to be the person in your team who knows how to use these tools to solve problems better and faster. That makes you invaluable.
This Is Leadership, Too
AI isn’t replacing leadership. It’s reshaping what leadership looks like. Today’s emerging leaders need to be adaptive, tech-savvy, and capable of driving AI integration in meaningful ways. Whether you’re leading a team, a project, or your own career, knowing AI makes you a better strategist.
Srinivas’ message cuts through the noise: stop scrolling, start learning. He’s not asking for perfection. He’s urging action. Because the next generation of leaders won’t just manage AI—they’ll master it.
