Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu has cautioned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence could unsettle the way people perceive their own value in society.
In a recent post on X, Vembu reflected on how AI’s expanding capabilities are reshaping conversations around work, intelligence and identity. He observed that many individuals derive their sense of worth from the economic value they generate or from being seen as intellectually superior. If that is the yardstick, he warned, AI may significantly disrupt those assumptions.
“If our notion of self-worth comes from the economic value we add, or from our intellectual pretence, AI may pose a serious challenge,” he wrote.
However, Vembu stressed that some of the most meaningful human roles are not defined by salary, status or measurable productivity. He cited everyday examples: people who care for children or the elderly, teachers committed to shaping young minds, and individuals who leave high-paying corporate careers to take up farming. He also mentioned forest rangers who work out of a deep love for nature, priests who perform rituals even when temples are empty, and classical musicians who continue to practise and perform for small audiences.
According to him, these pursuits are driven by dedication and personal conviction rather than financial incentives. Because they are rooted in purpose and service, he suggested, they are less vulnerable to disruption by machines.
Vembu’s comments arrive amid intensifying global debates about artificial intelligence and its long-term impact. As automation advances, concerns about job displacement, creative replacement and economic inequality have grown louder. At the same time, some technologists and thinkers argue that AI could push humanity to reassess what truly matters beyond output and efficiency.
In that context, Vembu proposed that society might gradually reorganise itself around care, passion and intrinsic meaning rather than purely economic metrics. If so, the AI era could become not just a technological shift, but a cultural one — prompting people to redefine success and self-worth on more human terms.
Also Read: Artificial Intelligence Can Replace Auditors And Accountants, Says Union Finance Secretary https://www.vibesofindia.com/artificial-intelligence-can-replace-auditors-and-accountants-says-union-finance-secretary/
