From the way we work and learn to the way we consume entertainment, artificial intelligence has become an almost inescapable part of our daily lives. And while this technology promises to skyrocket profits for companies and bring tremendous benefits to society, it is further reinforcing the need for even top business leaders to maintain intentional human connections.
Billionaire Mark Cuban put it bluntly. “It’s time for all of us to buckle down, get out of the house, and have some fun.”
From the former perspective, this level of candor may seem surprising shark tank A star that has long positioned itself at the forefront of technology trends. But Cuban also makes it clear that there is little point in working hard if there is no room to live fully outside.
“In the world of AI, what you do is much more important than what you prompt,” he added in an interview. Co., Ltd..
This back-to-basics mentality also applies to Fortune 500 executives. General Motors CEO Mary Barra, for example, doesn’t let AI handle her communications. Instead, she picks up paper and pen and personally replies to the letters she receives.
“got it [letters] Customers tell me…when the odometer hits 200, 300, 400,” Barra said in his speech. new york times DealBook Summit in December. “We also receive letters from consumers who are unhappy about something, and we respond to every letter we receive. For me, this is a very special business.”
Even Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and the architect behind ChatGPT, advocates for a complete break from the technology. On many weekends, Altman and her husband and son hole up at their ranch in Napa, California, often hiking in areas without cell phone service.
“I end up living in a strangely isolated world,” Altman said. “I’m fighting it as hard as I can…I think the more the world builds a bubble around you, the crazier you get.”
Although Cuba, Barra, and Altman come from very different backgrounds and have vastly different responsibilities, their actions reflect a common belief. As AI becomes more powerful, the most valuable skills for Gen Z may be those that cannot be replicated by technology. According to a 2024 LinkedIn study, 9 out of 10 executives say human skills are more important than ever for career growth.
Today’s exodus from AI reflects social media backlash
This moment reflects early technological predictions more than a decade ago. As social media has grown in popularity, executives have praised its unprecedented connectivity, but have since grappled with its impact on attention, mental health, and autonomy.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, known for creating the messaging app Snapchat, has taken a particularly restrictive approach domestically. Spiegel previously said she limits her children’s screen time to about 90 minutes a week. He also credits his parents with enforcing a no-TV policy until he was “almost a teenager.”
“I think the more interesting conversation is around the quality of screen time,” Spiegel said. financial times.
This emphasis on quality over quantity is echoed by Steve Chen, co-founder and former chief technology officer of YouTube, who helped build the platform before it was acquired by Google in 2006.
“I think TikTok is entertainment, but it’s pure entertainment,” Chen said at the Stanford Graduate School of Business last year. “It’s all about the moment. Short-form content alone shortens attention spans.”
In recent years, technology leaders have become increasingly vocal about how algorithm-driven platforms shape behavior.
“We are programmed,” Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey said in 2024. “We are programmed based on what we say we are interested in, and through these discovery mechanisms we are taught what is interesting. And as we engage and interact with this content, the algorithm continues to build this bias more and more.”
Some executives take this warning to its logical extreme. Danny Hogenkamp, CEO of Grassroots Analytics, a Washington, D.C.-based fundraising software company, described himself as a “Luddite.” He uses a flip phone, avoids social media completely, and openly encourages others to follow his lead.
“I’m at a loss here, right? A lot of people think I’m crazy,” said the Millennial washingtonian. But he added, “The science is all on my side,” pointing to research showing a link between continued digital engagement and decreased attention span and cognitive overload.
For some business leaders like Jensen Huang, an escape from technology is not possible.
Not all executives agree that unplugging is the answer.
Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has publicly endorsed the grueling 996 work culture of working from 9am to 9pm six days a week, a practice that has since affected parts of the global technology industry.
“If you find something you like, the 996 is fine,” Ma said in a 2019 blog post. [your work]every minute is torture. ”
For Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, ongoing engagement is part of the job. He works every day of the year, doing mundane tasks like watching movies and washing dishes, while also answering thousands of emails and constantly thinking about the company’s future.
“You know the phrase ’30 days out of business’? It’s a phrase I’ve used for 33 years,” Huang said. joe rogan experience last year. “But those feelings don’t change. Those feelings of vulnerability, uncertainty, and insecurity never leave you.”
Yet, as AI becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, more and more leaders are suggesting that full immersion is not necessary for progress. Rather, they argue that clearer boundaries may be needed before technologies designed to enhance human potential begin to erode human potential.
Gen Z may already be heeding that advice. Many young consumers are attracted to so-called “analog islands” and embrace offline tactile experiences as an alternative to always-on connectivity. From learning how to operate a stick shift and collecting records to playing board games and taking handwritten notes, this shift suggests a growing desire to slow down and be more human, even among the digital-first generation.
