I read with great interest the news about Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho, deciding to take a break for introspection. In an industry defined by relentless speed and a perpetual fear of missing out, this act of deliberately stepping away from the fray is not just unusual; it is a profound statement on true leadership.
More importantly, Vembu’s pause is coupled with a warning about the risks of the current AI gold rush. It’s a sentiment I deeply share. We are so caught up in the race to build the next algorithm, to optimize every process, that we risk losing sight of the human element, the societal cost, and the ethical guardrails that must accompany such powerful technology.
This reminds me of my own reflections from years ago. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought years ago. In a 2016 blog post, "Revenge of AI?," I speculated on a future where AI would automate entire newsrooms and expressed a hope that this new intelligence would remain “devoid of human frailties.” I had already predicted this challenge, questioning the unchecked march of automation.
Now, seeing a leader like Sridhar Vembu voice similar concerns validates those early thoughts. Reflecting on it today, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. His call for introspection is a powerful reminder that true innovation requires not just computational power, but conscious, human reflection. It adds a renewed urgency to revisit those ideas, because they clearly hold value in our current race towards an AI-driven future.
This isn’t just a lesson for the tech industry; it is a universal principle. The greatest breakthroughs often come not from the noise of constant activity, but from the silence of deep thought. The ability to disconnect, to question the very direction we are sprinting towards, is perhaps the most critical and undervalued skill for any leader in this transformational era.
I commend Sridhar Vembu for his courage to pause. He is reminding us all that sometimes, the most productive thing one can do is to stop doing and simply think. Our future with AI may depend on our collective willingness to embrace such moments of introspection.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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