The rise of AI prompt engineering as a lucrative side hustle: Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban suggests that if he were 16 years old today, he would pursue AI prompt engineering as a promising side gig, highlighting the potential of this emerging field.
- Cuban outlines a three-step approach to capitalizing on this opportunity: learn to write prompts for AI language models, teach friends how to use these prompts for schoolwork, and offer services to small and medium-sized businesses unfamiliar with AI technology.
- The average starting salary for AI tutors is around $30,000 per year, while full-time AI prompt engineers can earn up to $129,500 annually, according to job board platform ZipRecruiter.
- This side hustle doesn’t require a college degree, but it does demand practice and often certification to understand the workings of large language models.
The Gen Z side hustle trend: AI prompt engineering aligns with the broader trend of side hustles among younger generations, particularly Gen Z.
- A LendingTree report from February revealed that more than half of Gen Zers in the U.S. currently have side hustles.
- Online certification courses, such as those offered by Vanderbilt University and IBM on Coursera, claim to teach the basics of AI prompt engineering in as little as one month.
Cuban’s entrepreneurial journey: The billionaire’s own path to success began with humble side hustles and evolved into major business ventures.
- At age 12, Cuban sold garbage bags door-to-door in his Pittsburgh neighborhood to save money for basketball shoes.
- As a teenager, he earned extra cash by selling collectibles like baseball cards, stamps, and coins.
- During college at Indiana University, Cuban bartended, hosted parties with cover charges, and worked as a dance instructor to support himself.
- After a brief stint in banking post-college, Cuban turned to full-time entrepreneurship, selling his first company, MicroSolutions, for $6 million in 1990.
- His second company, Broadcast.com, was sold to Yahoo for $5.7 billion in 1999, making him a billionaire.
Current ventures and net worth: Cuban continues to be involved in various business endeavors and philanthropic efforts.
- Forbes estimates Cuban’s current net worth at $5.7 billion.
- He is a prominent advocate for his online pharmacy, Cost Plus Drugs, which aims to make common prescription medications more affordable by selling them at cost plus a 15% markup.
- Cuban is also known for his role as a panelist on the ABC show “Shark Tank,” where he often shares insights from his entrepreneurial experiences.
The importance of adaptability in entrepreneurship: Cuban’s career trajectory and current advice underscore the value of staying ahead of technological trends and being willing to adapt to new opportunities.
- His suggestion for young people to focus on AI prompt engineering reflects an understanding of the rapidly evolving job market and the increasing importance of AI-related skills.
- Cuban’s own diverse array of side hustles and business ventures demonstrates the benefits of being versatile and open to new opportunities in the pursuit of success.
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