AI Billionaires: Hope or Division? The New Goldmine of AI is "Human Expertise" — Young People Thriving in the Data Economy

The Contradiction of "Jobs Decreasing Due to AI" and "Increase in AI Billionaires"

"AI is narrowing the entry points for new graduates and young professionals"—while such concerns are spreading, the same AI is becoming the "fastest route to ultra-wealth." According to a summary by Fortune, the number of young billionaires "self-made" under 30 is increasing at a record pace, with 11 new billionaires emerging in just the last three months, many of whom have grown their assets through AI-related ventures.Fortune

Some view this phenomenon as a "story full of dreams," while others see it as an "accelerator of inequality." The important point is that what is happening now is not just a simple success story of "efforts being rewarded," but rather that the unique "value creation" of the AI era is exacerbating the concentration of wealth.The unique "value creation" of the AI era is exacerbating the concentration of wealth.

Background of the Record: Wealth is Created by "Valuation" Rather Than "Revenue"

The Times of India reports, based on Forbes' analysis, that entrepreneurs reaching billionaire status in their 20s are breaking past records, especially with a rapid increase towards the end of the year. The key point is that instead of gradually accumulating profits over time,large funding rounds (late-stage) cause valuations to soar, and founders' shares expand as "paper wealth."The Times of India

Without factories, inventory, or large-scale personnel, small software teams can quickly reach the global market. AI reduces "friction of expansion," compressing what used to take ten years to scale down to a few years. What emerges here is not only "increased revenue." Investment money, eager not to miss the "next big thing," pushes up valuations, rapidly propelling founders' wealth into the billionaire range.

Of course, "paper wealth" is not all-powerful. Lock-ups, sale restrictions, fluctuations in stock prices and valuations, and a deteriorating IPO environment can diminish asset values by tomorrow. However,it is true that assets on a scale that can change "life choices" in a short period are easily created.

The "New Gold Mine" Created by AI: Learning Data and "Human Expertise" Sell at High Prices

The increase in young billionaires is symbolized by the market for "human knowledge" that supports the learning of AI models.

A detailed account of Mercor's trajectory is depicted in a long article by The Verge. Mercor originally started as a "high-tech talent agency" automating the hiring of overseas engineers, but rapidly shifted towards a "network of experts (data supply) to train AI models" amid the AI boom. AI companies demand not just large volumes of data but "high-quality data" with domain knowledge in areas like programming and finance. With this explosion in demand, Mercor has gained enormous valuations.The Verge

This is important. The evolution of AI not only has the aspect of "making humans unnecessary" but also the aspect where "humans to make AI smarter" sell at high prices. In other words, while entry-level jobs are being cut, elsewhere, people who can "verbalize expertise as a 'rubric'" or "teach models the 'correct form'" are more valuable than ever."humans to make AI smarter" sell at high prices.

Another Symbol: A Former Ballerina Reaches Billionaire Status in the "Prediction Market"

AI is not the only fuel for "youth enrichment." The rapid growth of prediction markets also plays a part.

MoneyWeek reports that Luana Lopes Lara, co-founder of Kalshi (originally from Brazil and a former ballerina), gained attention amid the prediction market boom. Kalshi was growing slowly, but its valuation surged in 2025, reportedly jumping significantly. Her career transition (ballet → MIT → entrepreneurship) has a "story quality" that easily spreads on social media.MoneyWeek

What is common here is that it is an era where players who "interpret regulations, systems, and data and redesign the market with software" are thriving more than "giant companies with infrastructure."

SNS Reactions: Praise and Discomfort Clash on the Same Timeline

The reason this theme easily gains traction on social media is that emotional pathways are split in opposite directions. Based on actual posts and comments, the reactions can be categorized as follows.

1) "It's a dream," "Youth × AI is a cheat"—Voices Celebrating Acceleration

The context of Mercor's co-founder being "a billionaire at 22" is often discussed on platforms like LinkedIn as "the next generation of entrepreneurs" (with many narratives like "breaking Zuckerberg's record").linkedin.com

Additionally, in an interview with the Economic Times, the co-founder described the rapid growth as "surreal," and these "words from the person involved" are often quoted on social media.The Economic Times

Typical Comments (Summary)

• "The AI era has made 'taking the world with a small team' a reality."

• "Products over school. Just create."

• "The era where 'it's impossible because you're young' doesn't apply."

2) "Is that really 'self-made'?"—Backlash Against "Self-Made"

On the other hand, there is a strong voice of discomfort with the label "self-made" itself. Especially regarding asset valuations based on valuations and "paper wealth" that swells rapidly with VC funding, there are reactions like "don't equate it with wealth accumulated through labor, profit, and taxation."

On Hacker News, discussions about young billionaires often flow towards questioning the label's flexibility, with comments like "there are exceptions," "it's difficult to define in the first place," and "was a billionaire before but not now."Hacker News

Typical Comments (Summary)

• "It's risky to definitively consider 'valuation of unlisted shares' as assets."

• "If the market environment changes, it can collapse overnight."

• "If you claim to be 'self-made,' you should also talk about the tailwinds of capital and systems."

3) "While entry points for young people disappear, only a few become billionaires?"—Anger at Inequality

One of the axes indicated by the Fortune summary is the contrast of "AI shaking entry-level positions while creating wealth."Fortune

This point is easily ignited when linked to employment discussions. On Hacker News, skepticism and actual experiences clash over whether entry-level jobs are decreasing due to AI (e.g., comments starting with "Is that really true?").Hacker News

Typical Comments (Summary)

• "Without the first step (internship, junior), the next generation won't grow."

• "The fruits of 'efficiency' are skewed towards capital, not employment."

• "The structure of a few winners and many destabilized is accelerating."

4) "Aren't companies profiting from AI treating labor poorly?"—Doubts About Ethics and Treatment

What easily ignites further is the treatment of people working behind the scenes of AI. PEOPLE reports that there was backlash regarding changes in compensation and project cancellations for contract workers at Mercor, with statements from those involved like "We are real people who need notice and consideration."People.com

In an interview with The Verge, the data supply scene is depicted as coexisting with "explosive demand" and "litigation, confusion, and quality control," showing a structure where AI's "winning strategy" directly creates "friction sites."The Verge

Typical Comments (Summary)

• "If you're creating wealth with AI, also talk about the compensation and transparency for those supporting it."

• "While saying 'human expertise is valuable,' isn't the field unstable?"
  
  
  

So, How Should We Read This News?

The conclusion is simple: hope and crisis progress simultaneously.

• Hope: AI has provided "leverage" to access the global market, even for the young and small teams. If data, systems, and product design align, success accelerates exponentially.The Verge

• Crisis: The same acceleration narrows entry-level employment and intensifies wealth concentration. Moreover, with "paper wealth" taking precedence, the perceived social inequality is more stimulating than the actual situation.Hacker News

• Reality: Even the winners of AI ultimately depend on "human expertise," "regulations," and "market psychology." In other words, not just individual effort, but the design of systems, capital, and timing determines success or failure.

The increase in young billionaires is both "news that allows young people to dream" and a mirror reflecting "where society is divided." Whether AI ends as "a rocket for a few geniuses" or becomes "a tool to elevate the productivity of a wide range of people" is the question. The split opinions on social media indicate that we are already at that crossroads.