BENGALURU: Zoho founder and CEO Sridhar Vembu cautioned software professionals against assuming continued dominance in the job market, warning that emerging technologies like large language models (LLMs) and advanced development tooling could “destroy a lot of software jobs.” In a post on X, Vembu said, “The fact that software engineers get paid better than mechanical engineers or civil engineers or chemists or school teachers is not some birthright, and we cannot take that for granted, and we cannot assume it will last forever.”He reminded that even customer demand is contingent: “The fact that customers pay for our products also cannot be taken for granted.” Vembu underscored the risk of complacency, quoting Intel’s Andy Grove, “Only the paranoid survive.”
Sridhar Vembu
The remarks come amid a broader shift in the software industry, where rapid advancements in generative AI are automating routine coding tasks. While companies are investing in AI to boost productivity, there are growing concerns about its implications on traditional engineering roles. Vembu previously voiced concerns about AI’s impact on employment and advocated for greater humility and adaptability in the tech sector. “The productivity revolution I see coming to software development (LLMs + tooling) could destroy a lot of software jobs. This is sobering but necessary to internalise,” he said in the post.The Zoho chief’s comments add to a chorus of voices from the industry calling for recalibration of skills in light of AI-led disruption, particularly in white-collar domains. As enterprise software firms increasingly integrate AI into development workflows, industry experts told TOI that the shift could alter the structure of engineering teams and recalibrate entry-level hiring.
