Ask Better Questions or Get Left Behind
Jensen Huang on Using AI Early in Your Career
“The people who stand out aren’t the ones asking AI random questions, they’re the ones asking how AI helps them do their job better.”
— Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA
That line hits harder in today’s market than it would have a few years ago.
Right now, unemployment for ages 20–24 has jumped to ~9.2%, a level usually seen during recessions. New grads are competing in a market where credentials matter less and leverage matters more.
AI isn’t the advantage by itself.
Knowing what to ask is.
The Wrong Way to Use AI (Most People Are Here)
Most people treat AI like:
- A smarter Google
- A code generator
- A homework helper
- A content writer
So they ask:
- “Explain Kubernetes”
- “Write this function”
- “Summarize this article”
- “Make me a resume”
That might save time.
It does not create leverage.
The Right Question (The One Jensen Is Pointing At)
Instead of asking:
“What can AI do?”
Ask this, persistently:
“How does AI help me do my job better?”
Not hypothetically.
Not someday.
Today. In my role.
That single question reframes AI from a tool into a multiplier.
The Question, Applied to You
Here’s how that question looks when you actually operationalize it.
If You’re a Student or New Grad
Wrong question:
“Can AI explain this topic?”
Better question:
“How can AI help me learn this faster than everyone else?”
Best question:
“How can AI help me build proof that I can already do this job?”
Concrete uses:
- Turn lectures → interview-ready explanations
- Convert assignments → portfolio artifacts
- Simulate interviews weekly
- Build tiny demos instead of just studying
Outcome:
You stop competing on GPA and start competing on evidence.
If You’re an Engineer
Wrong question:
“Can AI write this code?”
Better question:
“How can AI help me ship higher-quality systems faster?”
Best question:
“How can AI turn me from a ticket-closer into a systems thinker?”
Concrete uses:
- Pre-think designs before reviews
- Generate test strategies & edge cases
- Turn vague tasks into clear plans
- Document decisions and tradeoffs
Outcome:
You look senior earlier, because you think in systems, not snippets.
If You’re a Manager / SDM
Wrong question:
“Can AI help me write emails?”
Better question:
“How can AI help me lead people better?”
Best question:
“How can AI multiply my impact across people, projects, and stakeholders?”
Concrete uses:
- Draft clear feedback (especially hard feedback)
- Prepare for tough conversations
- Translate strategy → execution plans
- Produce crisp weekly updates that build trust
Outcome:
Less chaos. More clarity. Higher trust.
If You’re a Builder or Founder
Wrong question:
“What startup ideas does AI have?”
Better question:
“How can AI help me validate ideas faster?”
Best question:
“How can AI compress learning loops so I fail or win quickly?”
Concrete uses:
- Write landing pages in minutes
- Simulate customer objections
- Generate outreach messages
- Scope MVPs aggressively small
Outcome:
You test markets, not fantasies.
The Meta-Question (This Is the Cheat Code)
No matter your role, the question always reduces to this:
“If I keep asking AI better questions than everyone else, what compounds for me in 12 months?”
- Better judgment
- Faster execution
- Stronger communication
- Sharper intuition
- More optionality
AI rewards clarity of intent, not curiosity alone.
Why This Matters Right Now
In a weak job market:
- Average effort doesn’t stand out
- Credentials decay faster
- Titles matter less than output
AI creates a brutal divide:
- People who use it to think
- People who use it to ask
Jensen Huang’s advice isn’t about prompts.
It’s about ownership of your trajectory.
Final Takeaway
Don’t ask AI to replace your work.
Ask AI to:
- sharpen your thinking
- compress your learning
- multiply your impact
- leave artifacts behind
The people who win won’t be the ones who used AI the most.
They’ll be the ones who asked the right question early,
and kept asking it every day.