AI Risks and India's Strategic Path
Zoho co-founder and Chief Scientist Sridhar Vembu has dismissed widespread fears that artificial intelligence will lead to catastrophic outcomes, describing such predictions as overstated. In an interview with PTI, Vembu argued that a global pause in AI development is unlikely, noting that major AI laboratories would have little incentive to halt progress while competitors continue to advance their technologies.
Vembu urged India to adopt an independent approach to AI, emphasizing the need to keep strategic options open rather than becoming locked into the emerging technological rivalry between the United States and China. "We must be friends with everybody, enemies with nobody and keep our options open," he stated.
Focus on Foundational R&D
A central part of Vembu's recommendation is a shift in investment focus. He distinguished between the massive sums—often tens of billions of dollars—spent by global companies on developing and deploying frontier AI models, and the need for extensive investment in critical foundational research and development (R&D).
According to Vembu, building foundational capabilities does not require the same scale of capital. "It is not a USD 10 billion proposition and can be done for USD 100-200 million," he said. He suggested that such research should span every sector, focusing on long-term scientific and technological capabilities rather than just immediate model deployment.
Impact on Skills and Workforce
While Vembu is not personally worried about AI wiping out humanity, he expressed significant concern about the erosion of human judgment and skills. He highlighted a study by the US National Bureau of Economic Research involving lawyers, which found that junior lawyers using AI tools completed tasks faster but did not necessarily build or retain the underlying knowledge required to perform the work independently.
Vembu warned that a similar dynamic could affect software engineers. He noted that more experienced professionals are better positioned to use AI because they already possess a strong foundational understanding. In response, Zoho may consider restricting AI access for junior engineers until they have mastered core skills. "The priority is that humans should be learning," Vembu said, arguing that workers must retain critical skills rather than surrendering them to AI systems.
Regulation and Future Outlook
On the topic of governance, Vembu compared the current state of AI regulation to the early automobile industry, where widespread adoption preceded the establishment of rules for licensing and safety. He expects AI governance to evolve alongside the technology rather than preceding it.
Regarding the future of work, Vembu does not expect AI to make entire professions obsolete. He pointed to the continuing importance of human judgment, accountability, and context in areas such as medicine, law, and software architecture. While acknowledging that software engineering jobs may face pressure, he remains optimistic that automation will create demand in other sectors. He identified four broad pillars of enduring human work—nature, nurture, culture, and scripture—encompassing agriculture, education, healthcare, entertainment, and religious life, suggesting that productivity gains from AI could free up resources for these human-centric fields.