This Shark Tank Investor Says Studying Greek Philosophy Could Help Us Beat AI

AI may be racing ahead, but one billionaire thinks the best way to future-proof your career is by looking backward — way backward. While tech leaders are predicting that artificial intelligence will rival humans in just a few years, Shark Tank star and KIND bar founder Daniel Lubetzky believes the secret to staying competitive could be found in the works of Plato, Socrates and Aristotle.

“Being a critical thinker is in high demand, and they’re going to become greater demand. AI is real, but it doesn’t have the creativity that humans have,” Lubetzky exclusively tells Preston Fore from Fortune. “If, as young people, you lean into your curiosity, in your critical thinking and in your creativity, you will win.”

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Lubetzky argues that Gen Z should unplug from algorithm-driven feeds and go back to basics. His recipe for success includes questioning history and philosophy, and avoiding the trap of scrolling endlessly. “Always ask why, and then go one level below double click, triple click, to the sources. Why? Why? Why? Why? If you do that, you’re going to develop a mind that’s going to be able to beat anybody else and be more valuable in the workplace,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of self-reflection. “Learn to question others, and learn to question yourself, to be introspective, to think for yourself and say, ‘What did I do wrong today? How can I get stronger?’”

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Of course, AI literacy is still critical. LinkedIn data shows it is the fastest-growing skill in the U.S., and knowing how to work with the tech can boost productivity. But there is a catch. Researchers have raised concerns that “cognitive offloading” — relying too much on AI — could actually make humans less skilled.

That is why Lubetzky is not alone in pushing critical thinking to the top of the agenda. Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services, told CNBC: “You’re going to want to be creative. You’re going to want to be [good at] critical thinking. And you’re going to want to be flexible. I think the ability to learn new things and adapt is going to be just as important as any particular skill that you learn.”

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Even AI leaders agree. OpenAI’s Sam Altman told students at Howard University: “I think critical thinking, creativity, the ability to figure out what other people want, the ability to have new ideas, that in some sense that’ll be the most valuable skill of the future.”

Lubetzky himself admits the moment feels daunting. But in true entrepreneur style, he says challenges are also opportunities. “When people are zigging, if you zag, you’re going to do better. If others are not taking advantage of those opportunities, if you’re the one that takes advantage, you’re going to outperform even more so.”