How Students, Professionals, and Job‑Seekers Can Thrive in the AI Era

In the fast‑moving AI era, a familiar name reappears in the public eye—Jing Kun, former Baidu vice‑president and founder of DuerOS, now co‑founder and CEO of Genspark.

He was an early driver of voice interaction and intelligent assistants in China and one of Baidu’s youngest executives.

His career mirrors the AI wave: after graduating from Tsinghua he joined Microsoft to work on Windows, then moved to Baidu to create and lead the voice AI platform DuerOS, which quickly became one of China’s largest smart‑voice ecosystems; today he leads a startup innovating in AGI applications, turning complex technology into productivity tools for everyone.

At the end of 2024 his AI startup Genspark launched AI Browser, AI Slides, AI Sheets and other products that attracted industry attention, making it a standout “light‑app AGI” team in China.

When he recently wrote about “How ordinary people should face AGI,” his words resonated with many young people, offering not only tech insight but also guidance for the next generation of workers.

He offers advice for three groups—students, professionals, and the unemployed.

Students: College Is Your On‑Ramp to the AI Superhighway

Recent graduates are stepping onto an AI highway without a clear route. The old “win at the starting line” mindset is outdated; AI resets the starting line for everyone.

The key advantage for students is an open mind and rapid learning ability.

If your AI knowledge exceeds interviewers’ expectations, you’ve already won half the battle.

What to do? Build an AI‑driven side project.

Study film? Treat yourself as a one‑person studio and use AI for storyboarding, casting, editing to create a one‑minute short.

Study computer science? Act as CTO and use AI to build an end‑to‑end app replicating your favorite social platform.

Study finance? Play the role of regional CFO, feed AI ten years of 10‑K reports and let it suggest acquisitions, cash‑flow analysis, and risk assessment.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection but taking the first step; that moment opens the gateway to the future.

Professionals: Use AI to Amplify Your Bargaining Power

In the accelerating AGI era, your leverage within an organization depends on how effectively you can amplify your work results with AI.

To stand out, become “the person who uses tomorrow’s tools today.”

Invest a modest amount each month in premium AI services—tools like OpenAI DeepResearch, Genspark AI Slides, AI Sheets, or Perplexity Finance—and integrate them into your workflow.

Also, share, teach, and lead others in AI; paradoxically, the more you help colleagues learn AI, the more indispensable you become.

Managers will notice you as a front‑runner, and opportunities tend to favor such individuals.

Unemployed: AI Is Your Toolbox for a Life “Reset”

Job loss can trigger anxiety, but it can also be a chance to restart. Projects you set aside can now be revived with AI bridging the gap to your childhood dreams and creative ideas.

Our 24‑person team released eight major products in ten weeks, including AI Browser built by a single engineer in three months, AI Slides created by a product manager in two weeks, and a designer who built a full website in three days without prior coding experience.

These examples show that AI turns “impossible” into “worth trying.”

You don’t need to be an expert—just a willingness to learn—and you can build your own projects.

Instead of waiting for the next job, use AI proactively; you may discover better opportunities.

Final Thoughts

The future is already here, just unevenly distributed. Those who act are enjoying AI‑driven opportunities, while the hesitant remain stagnant.

Remember one sentence: “The future has arrived, it’s just not evenly spread.”