Perplexity’s CEO discussed the potential impact of AI on employment, suggesting that job losses might drive individuals to establish small businesses. Speaking on the “All In” podcast recorded at Nvidia’s GTC event last week and released on Monday, Aravind Srinivas highlighted that while AI advancements could result in workforce reductions, they also present numerous entrepreneurial opportunities. He emphasized that many individuals are dissatisfied with their current jobs and encouraged them to leverage AI tools to launch their own small enterprises rather than being stuck in a corporate routine.

During the podcast, the CEO elaborated that AI-powered small businesses could empower entrepreneurs to meet their financial needs, enhance their quality of life, and experience a profound sense of ownership and passion. Despite acknowledging potential temporary job displacement, he expressed optimism about an inspiring future where such entrepreneurial endeavors thrive. Srinivas co-founded Perplexity in 2022 following stints as a researcher at Google’s DeepMind and OpenAI.

In a report from August, Business Insider revealed that the AI search engine was seeking additional funding with a post-money valuation of $20 billion. Notable investors in the startup include SoftBank, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos. Srinivas has previously highlighted AI as a catalyst for fostering entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of utilizing AI technologies over passive activities like doomscrolling on social media platforms.

As AI continues to reshape workforces across various sectors, Srinivas stressed the necessity for new job opportunities to emerge from entrepreneurial initiatives. He outlined two potential pathways for individuals affected by job losses: either starting their own ventures utilizing AI or acquiring AI skills to contribute to emerging enterprises. The increasing accessibility of generative AI and vibe coding tools has spurred a surge in people exploring side projects and innovative business concepts.

Earlier this year, Business Insider detailed how individuals engaged in side hustles are leveraging AI tools to generate income by offering services such as creating startup pitch decks, writing children’s books, providing translation services, and crafting resumes for clients.