Mark Cuban has urged artificial intelligence companies to invest substantial funds in the towns and cities impacted by job losses brought on by AI-driven automation. Calling it a necessary expense, the billionaire investor described spending billions as a “cost of doing business” to address the growing economic challenges faced by communities left vulnerable by AI adoption.
Cuban criticized AI firms for losing public relations battles due to their failure to prioritize the very people affected by their technologies. He stressed that companies must engage directly with workers and local programs to ease the disruptive effects. “Being hated is not good for business,” Cuban wrote, highlighting that large AI enterprises have fallen short in putting people first.
The impact on creatives was another focus of Cuban’s remarks. He noted widespread fear among artists about how AI might undermine their professions. To bridge that gap, Cuban recommended that AI leaders meet face-to-face with artists in cultural hubs like Los Angeles and New York City, offering financial and creative support tailored to their concerns. He dismissed efforts to win public favor through celebrity endorsements as ineffective and out of touch.
In addition, Cuban pointed to the importance of maintaining good relations with the everyday workers who support AI infrastructure, such as those working in data centers. He argued that without the goodwill of these employees who keep operations running, AI companies would fail to meet the demands required for sustained growth.
His comments come amid a surge in AI-related layoffs across the United States, with companies including Snap, Cisco, and Coinbase announcing job cuts attributed to automation and AI integration. This shift has also sparked social backlash, exemplified by adverse reactions to AI references at recent college graduation ceremonies.