{
  "id": 70600,
  "title": "We need to find answers: Sridhar Vembu raises AI ‘wiping’ jobs question",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/we-need-to-find-answers-sridhar-vembu-raises-ai-wiping-jobs-question",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-03T04:02:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/sridhar-vembu-raises-ai-wiping-jobs-question-says-we-need-answers-if-it-can-be-as-sam-altman-suggests-universal-basic-income-or-something-else/articleshow/132818299.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu has expressed concerns about artificial intelligence potentially leading to mass job loss in India. In a recent social media post, Vembu warned that the nation must urgently address the challenge of creating jobs for its large youth population amid an uncertain global landscape. He noted that while the IT industry, including Zoho, has not generated significant new employment in recent years, the focus has shifted towards AI development and rising data center costs, driven by soaring server and memory prices. Vembu argued that although AI enables faster software production, it raises questions about whether the saturated global software market really needs more software. The CEO of Zoho admitted that the company is not expanding its workforce and that money previously allocated to new employees is now being spent on AI and infrastructure. Vembu suggested that Universal Basic Income (UBI) could be a potential solution to the income inequality caused by automation. He pointed to Sam Altman's $14 million investment into UBI research and noted that some UBI initiatives are already underway in India. However, Vembu also acknowledged the complexity of the issue and the lack of a clear solution, emphasizing that making goods affordable through automation is only part of the challenge, as people must also have income to purchase them.",
  "summary": "Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu expresses deep concern over artificial intelligence potentially eliminating jobs. He notes the IT industry, including Zoho, has not generated significant new employment recently. Money previously for new hires now funds AI and rising data center expenses. Vembu suggests Universal Basic Income as a potential solution to ensure income for citizens. He questions if the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu worries AI may cause mass job loss in India.",
    "IT industry hasn't created new jobs in recent years, focus shifted to AI.",
    "Vembu proposes Universal Basic Income as potential solution to income inequality."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}