What Jack Ma’s advice about age taught me about AI
When I was in my 20s , intelligence meant knowing more. I architected Rediffmail – first web-based email service of India .. using newer technology , newer tools , newer skills. Pretty much spent 21 years re-writing the code multiple times.
By my 40s , I realised something had changed. Intelligence wasn’t about how many things I could learn anymore. It was about how many seemingly unrelated things I could connect.
And now in my 50s , AI has entered this equation. Interestingly , I don’t think AI should play the same role throughout our lives. I was reminded of Jack Ma’s advice about careers.
“In your 30s, take risks because you can still afford to fail. In your 40s, focus on what you’re already good at. And in your 50s, spend time developing younger people.”
AI adds a fascinating dimension to that philosophy.
In your 20s : AI should be your “teacher”.
Be relentlessly curious. Learn coding , economics , design , psychology .. anything that interests you. Ask stupid questions. Build things that fail. AI has probably made this the greatest time in history to be young and curious.
20s –> how many things can I LEARN?
In your 30s : AI should become your “co-founder”.
Jack Ma’s advice: if you want to do something yourself , do it .. you can still afford to lose and fail. AI has dramatically reduced the cost of experimentation , research an industry , test an idea , build a prototype , write code , analyse customers and more! Things that once needed a team can now be tested over a weekend.
30s –> how many things can I TRY?
In your 40s : AI should become your “connector”.
By 40, you’ve accumulated something a 20-year-old hasn’t had enough time to accumulate: patterns , people , industries , successes , failures , mistakes , instinct. AI can help connect those dots in ways even you hadn’t considered. So , in your 40s , it’s about how many things you can connect.
40s –> What can I CONNECT that others cannot see?
In your 50s : AI should become your “amplifier”.
Jack Ma suggests spending these years developing the next generationas by now your most valuable asset isn’t information .. it’s judgement. AI can turn decades of experience into frameworks , stories , mentoring , teaching , writing .. and perhaps your next venture. So , don’t use AI to replace your experience .. use it to multiply it.
50s –> How much can I MULTIPLY?
Perhaps we’ve been thinking about AI adoption incorrectly. Instead of constantly asking how humans should keep up with AI , maybe AI should keep up with us.
20s -> LEARN -> teacher
30s -> TRY -> co-founder
40s -> CONNECT -> thinking partner
50s -> MULTIPLY -> amplifier
Final note – the most powerful personal AI of the future won’t simply know us better .. it will grow older with us.
Until next time .. happy thinking!
Author – Sumit Rajwade, Co-founder: mPrompto
