Michael Saylor, executive chairman of Strategy, recently appeared on Steven Bartlett's Diary of a CEO podcast for an in-depth discussion about Bitcoin, artificial intelligence (AI), investing and the future of business.

Throughout the interview, Saylor explained why he believes Bitcoin and AI are two of the most important technologies of our time. He also shared advice for investors, entrepreneurs and young people preparing for the future.

One of the biggest topics in the interview was Bitcoin. Saylor said people often think of Bitcoin as just another cryptocurrency, but he believes it is much more than that. He described it as "digital capital" or "digital property" that people can truly own.

"Bitcoin is digital empowerment, digital capital," Saylor said early in the conversation. "We're living through the digital transformation of assets."

According to Saylor, Bitcoin gives people more control over their money because it is not managed by a government or a bank. Instead, ownership is protected by cryptography, allowing people to store and transfer wealth without relying on traditional financial institutions.

Saylor also spoke about inflation and how it reduces the value of money over time. He argued that keeping large amounts of cash is not a good long-term strategy because inflation slowly lowers its purchasing power.

To explain his point, Saylor used the example of land in Miami Beach. Property that was worth around $10,000 many decades ago is now worth millions of dollars. He believes this shows that scarce assets usually increase in value over time, while cash loses value.

"The US dollar lost 7% of its value every year going for 100 years," he claimed.
Although Bitcoin is his preferred investment, Saylor also acknowledged that other assets, including gold, the S&P 500 and technology stocks, have historically performed better than simply holding cash.

During the interview, Saylor challenged the common belief that buying a home is always the smartest financial decision. He explained that owning a house comes with many ongoing costs, including property taxes, insurance, repairs and maintenance. These expenses can reduce the overall return on the investment.

Instead of saying everyone should buy property, Saylor argued that investors should carefully compare different assets before making long-term financial decisions.

Artificial intelligence was another major focus of the conversation. Saylor believes AI has reached a turning point and will change almost every industry in the coming years.
"Technology fails until it succeeds," he said.

He compared today's AI breakthroughs to the invention of powered flight, suggesting that after years of slow progress, the technology is finally becoming useful on a large scale.

Saylor predicts that AI will eventually perform many everyday tasks, from writing reports and creating software to driving cars and helping people at work.

One of the interview's most surprising moments came when Saylor said AI helped his company create billions of dollars in value. "I used AI to make $15 billion last year," he told Bartlett.

Saylor explained that he used AI to explore new ideas for raising money to buy more bitcoin. The AI helped him think through different legal and financial structures before working with lawyers and investment bankers.

He said this process eventually led to the creation of a new preferred stock called STRK, which helped the company raise billions of dollars. When asked which AI system he used, Saylor replied, "ChatGPT, OpenAI."

Saylor believes entrepreneurs should start using AI as part of their daily work. Rather than replacing human creativity, he sees AI as a tool that helps people solve problems faster and explore ideas they may never have considered.

He encouraged business owners to experiment with different AI systems and use them to improve products, services and decision-making. "If you aspire to create a business or create something of value," he said, "you definitely should pick one or more of these AIs."

Bartlett asked Saylor what young people should study if they want successful careers in the future. Saylor's answer was simple: learn about new technologies instead of focusing only on traditional careers.

He argued that AI will automate many routine jobs over time. Instead of competing with machines, people should learn how to work alongside them and use AI to solve new problems.

"What you want to do is learn how to ask the AI to do something that's never been done before," he said.

Although Saylor believes AI will become extremely powerful, he does not think humans will lose their importance.

He argued that creativity, original thinking and innovation will become even more valuable in an AI-powered world. While AI can complete many tasks quickly, people will still be needed to come up with new ideas and make important decisions.

"The moat's going to be the most talented content," he said, referring to the growing competition among online creators.

The interview also explored entrepreneurship and long-term success. Saylor said many people underestimate how long it takes to build a successful business. He believes lasting companies are usually created through years of consistent work rather than quick wins.
"If you're successful in less than four years, you got lucky," he said.

He also warned entrepreneurs against chasing too many opportunities at once. According to Saylor, many businesses fail because founders become distracted instead of focusing on their core business.

By the end of the interview, one message stood out clearly. Saylor believes the world is entering a new digital era driven by Bitcoin, artificial intelligence and rapid technological change.

While not everyone agrees with his views, Saylor remains convinced that these technologies will reshape the global economy over the coming decades.

His final advice was simple: "The actionable step is learn digital."

Whether discussing investing, business or careers, Saylor encouraged people to understand new technologies rather than fear them. In his view, those who learn and adapt early will be in the best position to benefit from the changes ahead.