Mark Cuban speaks in Pittsburgh, encouraging AI education for next-gen entrepreneurs

Serial entrepreneur Mark Cuban returned to his hometown Wednesday, saying the next generation of entrepreneurs will first need to learn artificial intelligence.

Cuban delivered the closing keynote at the Global Impact Forum, capping off a multi-day event focused on how artificial intelligence and automation are shaping the future of economic development and education. While touting the tech’s potential, Cuban also acknowledged there’s a need to adapt the tools for a younger audience.

When asked about AI regulation, Cuban said kid versions of ChatGPT and Gemini should be available, framing access to the tools as a way for underserved children to explore entrepreneurship.

Even a child at the poorest school, if they have access to AI tools on a library computer or a family member’s phone, “they have the ability to say, ‘I want to be an entrepreneur,’” the philanthropist and former Shark Tank star said during Pittsburgh Tech Week.

“The greatest skill an entrepreneur can have is curiosity,” Cuban said. “That’s what these large language models, these foundational models, can do for your kids.”

The appearance came the week after the Mark Cuban Foundation announced that Pittsburgh’s Carlow University will host the foundation’s next AI Bootcamp for high school students.

Launched in 2019, the AI Bootcamp introduces kids from underserved communities to the fundamentals of AI, including computer vision, natural language processing and machine learning — no coding experience required. 

“There’s so much change that’s happening on an ongoing basis,” Cuban said, “and that’s the whole point of trying to understand how it impacts kids, schools and the workplace because when something changes rapidly, it creates unlimited opportunity.”

Carlow to host free AI bootcamp 

The Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp began at Carlow on Nov. 1 and will run on Saturdays through Nov. 15. The program emphasizes ethical awareness, problem-solving and critical thinking rather than purely technical skills, according to the foundation.

“All students deserve the opportunity to harness AI as a tool for learning, creativity and career success,” Charlotte Dungan, chief learning officer for the Mark Cuban Foundation, said in an opening statement for the keynote. “The Mark Cuban Foundation is committed to building this better future. High-quality AI education is how we see tomorrow transformed.”

Pittsburgh’s bootcamp at Carlow joins a growing network of programs nationwide. Each year, host companies and schools across the country partner with the Mark Cuban Foundation to provide these free training programs in their local communities. This year, Pittsburgh is among more than 25 other cities that will host the program. 

The bootcamp aligns with Carlow’s mission to educate students from diverse backgrounds to become leaders, according to Howard A. Stern, Carlow’s MBA program director. 

“What makes our university unique is the passion of our faculty to explore ways innovation can empower people,” Stern said. “The Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI bootcamp perfectly complements this mission: Students gain technical fluency, then learn to apply those skills toward creating a better future for their communities.”