Canadian billionaire and former Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary is once again pushing back against the theory that artificial intelligence is only about painful layoffs. In a post shared on social media platform He also pointed to the rapid change in how companies allocate advertising dollars, noting that companies often spend up to 15% of their revenue on marketing and customer acquisition. “If you have the tools or the ability to use AI to create content to maintain customer relationships or acquire new customers, you are incredibly valuable,” O’Leary explained.
Monetize independent creatives
In an interview clip shared with X, O’Leary contrasted the AI-driven opportunities of the past with today. “Five years ago, when you graduated from art school, you were given $28,000 to begin with,” he says. He added that independent creators are now bypassing traditional jobs and earning six-figure incomes, sometimes as much as $500,000 a year. “This is not fiction, it’s fact. I’m paying for it,” he said, emphasizing that tangible benefits create rewards.
Warning of US power shortages
While O’Leary is bullish about the economic impact of AI, he also warns of the looming challenge of America’s power grid. Last month, he argued that one of the biggest risks to the growth of the AI sector is not hype, but power shortages. “Here’s our problem… we don’t have power,” he said, noting that China has added 500 gigawatts in 24 months, while the United States has added none. He warned that without major infrastructure upgrades, the United States will not be able to maintain the data centers needed for the next stage of AI.Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently issued a similar warning. He also sounded the alarm about America’s energy capabilities. In a video shared on social media platform Schmidt warned in the video that the U.S. is “running out of power,” highlighting the strain posed by large data centers, intensive cooling requirements, and around-the-clock operations.But O’Leary argues that AI is already embedded in all 11 sectors of the economy, increasing productivity and profits. But he argues that the conversation must shift from fear of layoffs to recognition of new wealth being created.
