Science & Tech · AI · 8 hrs ago
Zoho’s Sridhar Vembu warns AI could reshape computer-based jobs
Zoho cofounder Sridhar Vembu says AI could let one person do work once done by 10 in computer-based jobs.
He warned on X that this risk is becoming more real as AI advances.
He said this does not mean 90% of computer-based workers will lose all work.
Instead, cheaper work could let industries that could not afford them hire software engineers or digital marketers.
That could shift jobs and demand across the economy, though Vembu said the adjustment would be painful.
He urged people to accept that change is coming and prepare for it.
At Zoho, rising costs have led the company to cut marketing spending and withhold its usual annual pay increase; Vembu said it would work to avoid mass layoffs.
Zoho cofounder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu warned that one person using AI could do work that previously required 10 people in computer-based jobs.
He said this could lead to a painful rebalancing of work across the economy, but not necessarily leave 90% of computer-based workers without work.
Vembu said industries that could not previously afford software engineers or digital marketers might be able to hire them as AI lowers the cost of their work.
He urged people to accept that the change is coming and prepare for it.
Zoho has cut its marketing budget and told employees it cannot provide its usual annual pay increase this year.
- Who
- Zoho cofounder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu.
- What
- He warned that AI could let one person do work that previously required 10 people in computer-based jobs, prompting economic change.
- When
- October 29, 2026. Vembu said the risk is becoming more real.
- Where
- In a post on X.
- Why
- AI could increase productivity and make some services more affordable, changing demand for workers and how work is distributed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Vembu said server prices had gone up fourfold and rising AI use was adding to Zoho’s costs.
Vembu warned in a post on X that one person using AI could do the work of 10 people in computer-based jobs.
- Potential productivity
- One person using AI could do work previously requiring 10 people
- Computer-based workers
- Vembu said this does not mean 90% will have no work
- Potential new demand
- Software engineers and digital marketers
- Server prices
- Up fourfold, according to Vembu
- Zoho headcount
- Not increased for 18 months
3 sources
What people are saying
Any job performed on the computer has this risk now: one smart person using AI can perform the work of 10 people
This does not mean 90% of people working on a computer will have no work at all
What it does mean is a rebalancing across the economy and that is painful when we go through it
The only thing we can do is to accept that it is coming and be prepared for it
Posts on X
Any job performed on the computer has this risk now: one smart person using AI can perform the work of 10 people. The risk is getting ever more real. This does not mean 90% of people working on a computer will have no work at all. Industries that previously could not afford