Canadian billionaire, Shark Tank investor, and Harvard Executive Fellow Kevin O'Leary recently shared a video stating that if he were 25 again, he would double‑down on two domains: AI adoption for small enterprises and data‑center development. The advice targets fresh graduates and early‑stage founders looking for a clear strategic focus.

Why AI in SMEs Matters

O'Leary argues that AI growth will be “exponential,” and the most untapped market lies in companies with fewer than 500 employees. While many small firms are eager to embed AI into their workflows, they lack the expertise to do so effectively. “There’s a massive amount of people wanting to use it who don’t know how, and they’re willing to pay to solve that pain point,” he notes, highlighting a service‑oriented opportunity rather than traditional consulting.

Data Centers: The Real‑Estate of AI

The second pillar of his advice is data‑center development, which he describes as the core real‑estate challenge of AI. As AI models demand ever‑greater compute power, current construction pipelines cannot keep pace with the insatiable need for capacity. Goldman Sachs estimates a 165 % rise in data‑center power demand by 2030, underscoring the urgency.

O'Leary’s Investment Playbook

O'Leary has already committed to massive projects: a C$70 billion industrial park in Alberta slated to deliver 7.5 GW of computing capacity, and a US$100 billion data‑center venture in Utah. Both initiatives have faced scrutiny over timelines and community impact, yet they exemplify the scale required to support the broader AI ecosystem.

Implications for the Future

With tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft and Google pouring billions into expanding their hyperscale data‑center footprints, there is room for niche players to specialize in implementation services and mid‑tier infrastructure. O'Leary’s message is crystal‑clear: marrying expertise‑driven AI rollout with robust data‑center construction will generate the most lucrative economic returns in the coming decade.