Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank investor, shares his secret to starting a lucrative side hustle that can pay 6 figures a year without requiring a degree.
Cuban would start by learning how to write prompts for artificial intelligence language models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini. He would then teach friends how to use these prompts on their school papers and offer services to businesses that don’t understand AI yet.
According to a LendingTree report, more than half of Gen Zers in the US currently have side hustles, with AI prompt engineering being a particularly lucrative opportunity. The average pay for an AI tutor starts at $30,000 per year, while full-time AI prompt engineers can earn up to $129,500.
To become an AI prompt engineer, one needs practice and often certifications to learn how large language models operate. Online certification courses like Vanderbilt University or IBM’s offerings on Coursera claim that mastering the basics can be done in just one month.
Cuban’s hypothetical side hustle is more high-tech than his actual first job, selling garage bags door-to-door as a teenager to save up for basketball shoes. He also sold collectibles and bartended to earn extra cash before attending Indiana University.
Today, Cuban advocates for his online pharmacy Cost Plus Drugs, aiming to make common prescription drugs more affordable by selling them at cost plus a 15% markup. He believes in being a hustler and always having something going on, which is reflected in his successful entrepreneurial journey.
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Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/22/mark-cuban-if-i-was-a-teenager-again-id-start-this-ai-side-hustle.html