Meta’s AI Chief Compares Today’s AI Revolution to the Dawn of Personal Computing
Alexandr Wang, Meta’s Chief AI Officer and one of the company’s highest-paid employees, has a clear message for teenagers: learn AI now. Speaking during the Meta Connect 2025 event and on the TBPN podcast, Wang encouraged young people to dedicate their free time to mastering artificial intelligence tools — calling it the “Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg moment” of this generation.
“If you’re 13 right now, you should spend all your time vibe-coding,” Wang said. He believes those who experiment, build, and interact with AI from a young age will hold a major advantage in the future job market.
The Rise of Vibe-Coding
Wang’s advice centers on a concept called “vibe-coding”, a term also mentioned by Google CEO Sundar Pichai. It refers to a hands-on learning process in which users continuously build, test, and iterate with AI assistants — rather than relying on traditional structured learning or academic courses.
Vibe-coding emphasizes curiosity-driven experimentation. Wang explained that spending 10,000 hours with AI tools, refining prompts, and understanding how these systems think will prepare the next generation for careers across industries transformed by artificial intelligence.
“You just have to figure out how to use the tools maximally,” Wang said. “The people who grow up with these tools will have an immense advantage in the future economy.”
Drawing Parallels to the Personal Computer Era
Wang, who became the youngest self-made billionaire after founding Scale AI, compared today’s AI boom to the personal computing revolution of the 1980s. Back then, tech pioneers like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg taught themselves to code and built products that changed the world.
“It’s almost like when personal computers first came about,” he said. “The people who spent the most time with computing early on gained an immense advantage later.”
His analogy highlights how history may repeat itself — but this time, AI is the new frontier, and the next generation of innovators will likely emerge from those who dive deep into it today.
Meta’s AI Push and the Talent Race
Meta’s heavy investment in AI continues to reshape the company’s identity. Under Wang’s leadership, the firm has reportedly recruited top talent from OpenAI, Google, and other leading labs, forming what insiders call Meta’s “secret AI army.”
This strategic hiring spree underscores how fiercely competitive the AI sector has become. Big Tech companies are racing not only to build the most advanced models but also to attract the brightest minds capable of shaping the future of digital intelligence.
Why Wang’s Advice Resonates
Wang’s comments reflect a broader cultural shift — one in which AI literacy is becoming as essential as digital literacy once was. Teens and young adults who learn to collaborate with AI systems will likely find themselves ahead in fields ranging from programming and design to marketing, science, and art.
His emphasis on vibe-coding suggests that experience and experimentation, rather than formal credentials alone, could define the next generation of innovators.
As AI continues to evolve, Wang’s message is simple yet powerful: start now, stay curious, and keep building.
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