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Indian-American billionaire and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has made daring predictions about the future, suggesting that in the next three to five years, artificial intelligence (AI) could take over as much as 80 percent of jobs. In a conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on the 'People by WTF' podcast, Khosla remarked that we are likely to experience "more change in the next 15 years than we’ve seen in the past 50." He indicated that AI is set to change almost every field, from finance to engineering. Even though this prediction might sound alarming, the seasoned Silicon Valley figure also highlighted the potential benefits technology can offer.
Khosla emphasized the importance of a mindset-first strategy and pointed out the qualities that successful entrepreneurs possess across various industries: thinking from basic principles, resilience amid change, and, most importantly, the capacity to learn quickly. "If they learn quickly, they will need to adjust to the world as it evolves. This might be the most crucial trait of an entrepreneur," he shared, further explaining that one must "shape your career for flexibility rather than sticking to one job." Vinod Khosla explained to Kamath what is essential for the current generation, noting that it isn't about mastering one specific area, but rather being able to learn swiftly and adjust to new circumstances. "Every 20-year-old should aim for this skill of being able to jump into any new field... just the ability to think from basic principles and acquire knowledge in new domains," he stated.
That, according to Khosla, is where true value lies. He mentioned that education now will focus on learning "how to learn" instead of just excelling in one area. He urged young professionals to start from where their interests lead them, remain flexible, think in systems, and create a mindset that evolves with the changing world. "Don’t focus on being a specialist, become a generalist," is the advice from Vinod Khosla. He added, "Those who don’t know how to utilize AI will be replaced by those who can use AI effectively." Khosla emphasized that access to AI alone will not distinguish startups, but rather the human decisions that influence how AI is applied.
As per Khosla, in a future where AI supports public services, particularly in India, educational, medical, legal, and financial assistance could be available for free or at a minimal cost. "If all kids in India had access to a complimentary AI tutor… it would be superior to the finest education that wealthy individuals can provide," he stated. Regarding healthcare, Khosla expressed to Kamath, “Picture a scenario where medical knowledge is accessible at no cost. Every physician would be available for free. I mentioned how a small village in India could receive better heart health advice and treatment than what I'd get at Stanford, because even in 15 years Stanford will still have its heart specialists, while the village would utilize AI. This is almost definitely accurate. The software-driven solutions that rely on expertise, such as having personal lawyers for everyone, individual tutors for every student or adult, and personalized medical health recommendations… could potentially cover half of the economy with almost no-cost services from the government. Honestly, I would be thrilled to implement that in India. It’s such an obvious choice."
Although AI might threaten job security for humans, it also creates numerous chances for inquisitive minds, adventurous thinkers, and smaller communities. Vinod Khosla mentioned that the decision on how to use this tool—artificial intelligence (AI)—ultimately rests with people.
