Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has urged young people to shift their focus from mindless social media scrolling to learning and using AI tools. In a conversation with tech enthusiast Matthew Berman, he said, “Spend less time doomscrolling on Instagram; spend more time using the AIs.” Srinivas emphasized that this advice isn’t about driving usage for his company, but about helping the next generation add value to society.
He warned, “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.” His message is clear: AI literacy is quickly becoming essential for future job readiness.
Such a great conversation with @AravSrinivas, CEO of Perplexity.
AI Browsers, agents, white collar future, and competition.
Watch it if you haven’t already. https://t.co/SEaUz3tsOQ
— Matthew Berman (@MatthewBerman) July 20, 2025
He voiced growing concern about the rapid transformation of the job market under the influence of artificial intelligence. Speaking about the pace of AI development, he noted that human adaptability is being pushed to its limits. With technological advancements now occurring in cycles as short as three to six months, he warned that constant reskilling is no longer optional—it’s essential.
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Srinivas emphasized that some level of job loss is unavoidable, particularly for those unable to keep up with evolving tools and technologies. However, he sees opportunity in adversity, urging affected individuals to either launch their own ventures using AI or learn how to contribute meaningfully to AI-driven companies. His sentiments align with warnings from other AI leaders like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, who predicted that nearly half of entry-level white-collar jobs could be automated within five years, and Geoffrey Hinton, who has cautioned against the growing threat to routine intellectual tasks.
At the same time, not all industry voices are pessimistic. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, for instance, believes AI will augment rather than eliminate many roles. But even this more optimistic outlook underscores the need for workers to build AI literacy and adaptability to remain competitive.
For Srinivas, the core message is clear: those who begin using and understanding AI now will be the ones who lead and thrive in the future economy—while those who ignore it risk being left behind.
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