Sridhar Vembu says India must prioritise tech sovereignty over spending billions on GPUs

Zoho Chief Scientist and co-founder Sridhar Vembu has argued that India should prioritize building its technology infrastructure over spending billions on graphics processing units (GPUs). Addressing the 17th edition of TechSparks 2026, Vembu stated that a government earning $10 billion should invest in infrastructure across various cities like Bangalore and Chennai instead of allocating funds towards GPUs.

This perspective comes amid heightened interest and apprehension regarding AI advancements and their potential impact on job security for technology professionals. Vembu highlighted that the majority of the population merely consumes technology without actively engaging in its creation, emphasizing the need to extend technology investments beyond software to sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.

Drawing on examples from China, South Korea, and Taiwan, he stressed the importance of leveraging technology to enhance food production and drive economic growth. Vembu pointed out that Israel successfully cultivates food in desert conditions, underscoring the potential of innovative technology applications in agriculture. He advocated for India to establish sovereignty in foundational technologies and decrease its reliance on foreign nations, warning that current geopolitical tensions may expose the country to risks associated with accessing vital technologies.

Vembu concluded by asserting that strategic investments should focus on foundational and advanced technologies to foster lasting prosperity that benefits the entire nation.