Meta’s Alexandr Wang advises 13-year-olds to master AI tools and coding, comparing the moment to the personal computer revolution for future advantage.
Alexandr Wang, Meta’s Chief AI Officer, has urged young teens to focus on learning Coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI), tools to secure a competitive edge in the future economy.
Speaking on the TBPN podcast, Wang, 28, compared the current AI revolution to the personal computer boom, noting that early adopters like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg leveraged their skills to achieve lasting success. “It’s almost like when personal computers first came about — the people who spent the most time with them had an immense advantage in the future economy,” Wang said.
The former Scale AI founder advised 13-year-olds to devote substantial time to mastering AI and coding. “If you are like 13 years old, you should spend all your time coding… that’s how you live your life,” he said, emphasizing that early engagement with technology can create a “huge advantage” in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Wang highlighted the growing importance of “vibe coding,” a novel approach to software development in which developers use natural-language prompts to create products via AI. The concept, coined by OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy, allows developers to “fully give in to the vibes” and produce functional applications without traditional coding. Wang described the trend as a transformative moment in the tech ecosystem, offering young users unprecedented opportunities to experiment, innovate, and gain expertise.
Read Also: Meta’s Entry-Level Engineer Roles: Now Start Above $200K Pay
Wang’s own career exemplifies the potential of early engagement with technology. He launched Scale AI at 19 and became the youngest self-made billionaire at 25, leveraging AI to create a company that Meta later invested in with a $14.3 billion stake, valuing Scale AI at over $29 billion.
“Right now, if you spend time learning how to use these tools and figure out how to do it better than others, you can gain a massive advantage,” Wang said.
His message underscores the growing expectation that young people develop digital and AI literacy early, as artificial intelligence increasingly reshapes industries worldwide. Tech experts note that early exposure to coding and AI tools can significantly influence career trajectories, mirroring the advantage held by early tech pioneers decades ago.
As AI adoption accelerates across sectors, Wang’s advice highlights the strategic value of hands-on learning, suggesting that teenagers who engage with these technologies today could emerge as the innovators and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.