Exclusive: Mark Cuban says AI will be a baseline skill like email or Excel in 5 years and entrepreneurs should embrace it or get left behind
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Fortune

Exclusive: Mark Cuban says AI will be a baseline skill like email or Excel in 5 years and entrepreneurs should embrace it or get left behind

July 22, 2025
10:09 PM
4 min read
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financialtechnologyservicesmarket cyclesmarketdata analysis

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The billionaire investor told Fortune new AI assistants available to entrepreneurs will help turn “solo founders into full teams.”

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4 min read

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investment

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July 22, 2025

10:09 PM

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Fortune

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financialtechnologyservicesmarket cyclesmarketdata analysis

From an analytical standpoint, AI·Artificial IntelligenceExclusive: Mark Cuban says AI will be a baseline skill or Excel in 5 years and entrepreneurs should embrace it or get left behindBy Nino PaoliBy Nino PaoliNews FellowNino PaoliNews FellowNino Paoli is a Dow Jones News Fund fellow at Fortune on the News desk

However, SEE FULL BIO Mark Cuban tells Fortune AI assistants will enhance and line workflow for entrepreneurs who know how to harness the nology

Additionally, Jeff Schear/Getty Images for Global CitizenMark Cuban sees a world where AI fluency will be a baseline skill in the near-future

To be a successful entrepreneur, the billionaire investor tells Fortune in an exclusive interview that owners need to know how to work with AI agents to make their es more efficient and cut costs, in this volatile climate

Mark Cuban is no stranger to AI advocacy—but now the billionaire investor sees a reality where AI will be a “baseline skill or Excel” in five years time (fascinating analysis), in light of current trends

Cuban believes that for owners, being skilled in AI will be a table-stakes expectation

The analysis reveals ’s how they leverage the nology that will dictate their success in the years ahead

Moreover, Conversely, The billionaire told Fortune in an Q&A that in 10 years, “we’ll see more people working for themselves” with the help of AI assistants, which will turn “solo founders into full teams

However, ” “If you’re not using [AI] to move faster or make smarter decisions, you’re behind,” he wrote

Not only does Cuban see AI as a skill necessary for anyone to learn, but also as a team member any entrepreneur can invest in to help build their future

For Cuban, the future starts now

The ex-Shark Tank star advises Zen, an AI platform that has helped over 850,000 small owners start their own companies, in today's financial world

Cuban sees AI assistants the one Zen launched on Tuesday as “the ultimate equalizer, given the current landscape. ” Cuban has a financial interest in the Zen platform

Nevertheless, Zen this week announced the launch of “Velo,” a new AI agent designed to automate operations regulatory filings, re, and website creation

This leads to the conclusion that AI chatbot will take data and information vided by owners through their Zen user portals and vide personalized advice with no additional charge, acting as a “24/7 advisor,” Zen CEO and Founder Ross Buhrdorf told Fortune (which is quite significant), in light of current trends

Cuban said AI agents Velo have the capacity to act as an entrepreneur’s “VP of ops, your first sales rep, your data analyst, and your legal counsel rolled into one, minus the payroll, in today's financial world

In contrast, ” But, he warned entrepreneurs should treat AI “your smartest intern: ask the right questions, but always double-check the answers. ” Buhrdorf said the chat bot comes with human nical support (an important development)

At the same time, In 2024, 5

Additionally, 12 million new applications to launch es were filed, a 6, in today's financial world. 9% decrease from 2023, which saw a record- 5. 5 million new applications filed, according to data from the U (this bears monitoring)

Census Bureau, considering recent developments

Additionally, While the pandemic, government stimulus and shifts to remote work drove record entrepreneurial activity, interest in starting new es remains strong

Cuban said the most common barriers for entrepreneurs today are “fear and funding. ” He believes AI agents can unlock entrepreneurs that are barred from entering an industry due to hiring costs

Nevertheless, “[Ai isn’t] just a tool, it’s leverage (an important development)

Nevertheless, If you’re not using AI to move quicker and make smarter decisions, you’re at a disadvantage,” Cuban wrote (noteworthy indeed)

Additionally, “The most successful entrepreneur will understand how to perly use AI, amid market uncertainty. ” Cuban believes AI won’t replace entrepreneurs—rather, it will empower the ones who know how to harness the nology. “At the end of the day, AI is a multiplier,” Cuban wrote

Additionally, “Use it, but don’t be used by it. ” Introducing the 2025 Fortune 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in America

Explore this year's list.