Alexandr Wang oversees Meta Platforms' (Meta) Superintelligence Labs as Chief AI Officer. Born in 1997, he co-founded Scale AI at the age of 19. At the age of 24, he had become one among the youngest self-made millionaires in history.
His Advice to Young Teens
Wang recently delivered a powerful message to youngsters, particularly those around the age of 13, start using AI tools early, write a lot of code or "vibe-code," and view this as the equivalent of the early days of computing.
The main conclusions of his suggestion are as follows:
- He makes a comparison: people who now dive into AI tools early will have a tremendous advantage in the future economy, much as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg grew up playing with personal computers and coding.
• He refers to a creative, exploring approach to learning to code or construct with AI as called "vibe-coding," which entails playing, adjusting, experimenting with AI models, prompts, tools, and acquiring knowledge by doing rather than adhering to rigid theory or classes.
• He exhorts teenagers to immerse themselves in these tools for tens of thousands of hours: "If you're thirteen now, you should live your entire life coding," he advised.
• He describes it as a "moment of discontinuity" or change, saying, "It's almost like when personal computers first came about, the people who spent the most time with them had this enormous benefit in the future economy."
Why This Advice Matters
• First, the background: AI is currently becoming a fundamental component of many industries, not just
technology. Wang contends that, like early programming proficiency did decades ago, being at ease with AI technologies provides you an early mover advantage.
• Secondly, it prioritizes action over only studying: He advocates for practical construction and experimentation, or "vibe-coding," as opposed to merely academic education. For young individuals who wish to stand out, that is significant.
• Thirdly, this provides reference to established role models: Wang is arguing, "Treat this era similarly," by citing Gates and Zuckerberg, who are well-known for being raised up surrounded by
computers. Make the most of your youth by exploring, creating, making errors, and learning.
• Lastly, it's brave and hopeful: instead of advising students to "study harder," he calls for a vision of opportunity. Investing in AI now could let you influence the future rather than just respond to it.
