Meta’s Chief AI Officer, Alexander Wang, believes that the next generation must delve deeply into artificial intelligence if they are to be future-ready. Comparing how Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg spent their adolescence mastering emerging computer technology, Wang says today’s youth should devote their time to experimenting with AI tools to remain competitive in the future.

Speaking on the TBPN podcast during Meta Connect 2025, Wang argued that those who devote thousands of hours to mastering AI tools can gain a lasting edge over their peers. “If you’re 13 now, you should be spending all your time vibe-coding. This is a Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg moment. People who grow up with these devices will have a huge advantage in the future economy,” Wang said during his appearance on the show.

Wang, who became the youngest self-made billionaire at the age of 25 after founding Scale AI, compared today’s AI revolution to the beginning of personal computing. He said, “When the personal computer first came out, the people who spent the most time with it and grew up with it had a tremendous advantage in the future economy.”

He also shared anecdotes about how tech heads like Bill Gates used to sneak into labs at night to learn programming. Similarly, Wang suggests that teenagers adopt the same mindset, but this time with AI assistants and coding models.

What is vibe-coding?

Meta’s AI chief’s advice for the younger generation focuses on what he calls vibe-coding. But what exactly is it? Vibe coding is a term used for a hands-on style of learning, where young people actively build, test, and break things using AI coding assistants instead of relying solely on formal courses or structured learning. It is a rapid-experimentation approach to understanding how AI systems think and execute tasks. Vibe coding has gained popularity among techies with the rise of AI-powered development tools.

Vibe-coding involves repeatedly giving prompts to an AI model, iterating over the output and gradually learning how to command the machines effectively. Wang argues that this practical fluency combined with theoretical knowledge will help the younger generation become the most successful technologists. “I spend, like, 10,000 hours playing with tools and figuring out how to use them better than other people, so that’s a big advantage…. You just have to figure out how to make the most of the tools,” he said. “Those who do this will stand to gain tremendously over the next decade.”

Wang’s advice is similar to that of some industry peers. Andrew Ng, the man behind Google Brain, has previously said that this is “the best time ever to learn to code”, arguing that as AI makes programming more accessible, those who understand the fundamentals of coding will get the most benefit from AI systems and remain highly valuable.

Meta’s big AI bets and layoffs in the background

While Meta is working hard to dominate AI and investing billions to do so, Wang’s comments come at a moment of significant restructuring inside the company. Meta recently laid off nearly 600 employees from its AI division as part of efforts to streamline operations and accelerate growth.

In particular, new recruits associated with META’s superintelligence labs, including many hired under Wang, were spared. However, the company is aggressively reshaping its workforce to compete in the rapidly growing AI race.