Legendary investor Bill Gurley says artificial intelligence has become so dominant in the investment landscape that companies without an AI angle are effectively shut out of future funding, a reality he believes workers cannot afford to ignore.
In an interview with Tim Ferriss, Gurley, who backed Uber, Zillow, Grubhub and OpenTable, says the private markets have moved into a capital monoculture phase where deals not involving AI are shunned.
Gurley says the environment may sound exaggerated or even absurd, but stresses that it accurately reflects current market behavior.
“If you angel fund a deal and have any hope of it raising money in the future, if it’s not AI-related, right now, there is no interest. I can’t state clearly enough how there’s zero interest. And I could simultaneously make fun of that reality, but I could also justify that reality. But it is the reality right now.”
He says the same forces reshaping venture capital are beginning to reshape individual careers, regardless of industry or role. Gurley warns that AI’s impact on work is no longer theoretical and that ignoring it increases the risk of being displaced or sidelined.
“And by the way, while I mention that, I feel obligated to your audience. I don’t care what field you’re in, you should be playing with this stuff. It has the potential to impact your role in your career.”
According to Gurley, the most effective response is not resistance, but adoption.
“And the best way to protect against any risk of your career being obfuscated or eliminated by AI is to be the most AI-enabled version of yourself you can possibly be.”
Gurley frames AI fluency not as a competitive edge, but as a baseline requirement in a labor market increasingly shaped by intelligent systems.
Earlier this month, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on young American workers and college graduates to become AI experts/natives, as he believes companies are hiring in areas that require AI skills.
Meanwhile, billionaire Mark Cuban said that AI is now a survival tool for creators, warning that those who ignore the tech will be left behind.
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