Perplexity co‑founder and CEO Aravind Srinivas has issued a clear message to young people: spend less time doomscrolling and watching reels, and more time learning AI tools to build enduring skills.
🎯 What He Said
- In a podcast interview, Srinivas advised, “Spend less time doom‑scrolling on Instagram, spend more time using AI”.
- He emphasized that understanding and using AI tools effectively is rapidly becoming a core skill—and those who master them will have a clear competitive advantage in the job market.
⚠️ Why It Matters
- AI is reshaping jobs: Roles like recruiters and executive assistants are increasingly being automated by AI systems.
- Adaptability is urgent: He warned that human adaptability is being tested by AI’s rapid evolution—people comfortable with new tools will thrive, while those who don’t may fall behind.
🌱 What You Should Do
| Action | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|
| Swap passive screen time for active learning | Redirect time on reels to learning AI tools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini |
| Practice consistently with AI tools | Those “at the frontier of using AI” are more employable** |
| Explore entrepreneurship or AI-enabled upskilling | Srinivas sees opportunity for those who leverage AI to create new products or services |
💡 In His Words
- “Not because we want your usage, but … that’s your way to add value to the new society.”
- “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.”
- While the pace of AI is intense, stagnation isn’t an option: “either you learn AI or end up starting something new using it”—survival of the adaptable.
✅ Summary
If you’re spending hours on Instagram reels or TikTok, Srinivas recommends pivoting that time toward AI tools and learning. This shift isn’t about nostalgia for productivity—it’s about staying relevant in a world where AI fluency will increasingly determine career paths and opportunities.
