Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy Criticizes AI Hype in India, Calls for True Innovation

Infosys Founder Narayana Murthy Calls India's AI Hype as Silly, Old Programs

'This fashion of labeling ordinary software as AI is misleading' Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy took a strong stance against India's AI landscape, cautioning that much of what is being marketed as artificial intelligence (AI) is nothing more than "silly, old programs" repackaged with exaggerated claims. Speaking at TiE Con Mumbai 2025, Murthy criticised the growing trend of companies branding basic software as AI innovations. "This fashion of labelling ordinary software as AI is misleading. Many so-called AI solutions are just traditional programs with fancy tags," Murthy remarked. He emphasised that true AI is fundamentally built on two core concepts: machine learning and deep learning. Murthy explained that machine learning involves feeding data into algorithms to enable systems to improve through experience, while deep learning aims to mimic the workings of the human brain. "Machine learning is about putting data into models and refining those models with experience. Deep learning is a step further, trying to emulate the complex decision-making processes of the human brain," Murthy elaborated. His remarks come at a time when India's tech industry is witnessing a surge of startups and enterprises promoting AI-powered solutions. Murthy has always highlighted the importance of innovation in Indian tech, stressing that simply replicating Western AI solutions without adapting them to local challenges would not be effective. He encouraged Indian entrepreneurs to focus on developing solutions tailored to the country's unique socio-economic conditions. Eight years ago, speaking at Mood Indigo fest at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B), Murthy said, "There is this whole thing about automation and artificial intelligence. That is much more hype than the reality, at least in software services." Murthy has also been vocal about India's work culture, advocating for a 70-hour work week to boost productivity and help the country compete with global economies. His suggestion sparked widespread debate about work-life balance and employee well-being.

Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy cautions entrepreneurs against AI hype

Acknowledging that AI will cut jobs, Infosys cofounder Murthy stressed that it can also lead to economic growth. "In each tech, certain jobs will be eliminated, but if used in an assistive manner, we can grow the economy."Infosys cofounder N R Narayana Murthy on Wednesday sought to calm the "exaggerated" hype around artificial intelligence (AI) in India, noting that many systems being labelled AI were nothing more than old programming. "I think somehow it has become a fashion in India to talk of AI for everything. I have seen several normal, ordinary programs touted as AI," he remarked at TiECon Mumbai, an annual conference of entrepreneurs. In a conversation with TiE Mumbai founding president Harish Mehta, Murthy explained that there are two fundamental principles behind true AI: the first is machine learning, which enables large-scale correlation to make predictions; the second is deep learning, which mimics how the human brain works, using unsupervised algorithms. "I find that most of the so-called AI I see is silly and old programming," Murthy stated bluntly. "Unsupervised algorithms that use deep learning and neural networks are the ones that have much greater potential to do things that will mimic human beings better and better," he said. Acknowledging that AI will cut jobs, he stressed that it can also lead to economic growth. "In each tech, certain jobs will be eliminated, but if used in an assistive manner, we can grow the economy." Murthy also called on entrepreneurs to become job creators. "I have no doubt that each of you will create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and that is how you solve the problem of poverty. You don't solve the problem of poverty with freebies. No country has succeeded in that," he said.

Why did Narayana Murthy call the rising AI trend in India as silly, old programs? Infosys co-founder shares areas with greater potential

Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy discussed the exaggerated hype of AI in India, calling many so-called AI systems mere traditional coding. He emphasized that true AI relies on machine learning for predictions and deep learning for human-like capabilities. Murthy acknowledged AI's job displacement potential but highlighted its capacity to drive economic growth and urged entrepreneurs to create more jobs.Infosys co-founder, Narayana Murthy, while speaking at the TiECon Mumbai on Wednesday commented on the rising hype around artificial intelligence (AI) in India, claiming that many systems marketed today as AI were simply traditional programming. "I think somehow it has become a fashion in India to talk of AI for everything. I have seen several normal, ordinary programs touted as AI," Murthy commented during the annual entrepreneurial conference. In a discussion with Harish Mehta, founding president of TiE Mumbai, Murthy explained that true artificial intelligence is built on two key pillars: machine learning, which enables extensive correlation for predictions, and deep learning, which mimics human brain function using unsupervised algorithms. "Frankly, most of what passes for AI these days is trivial and outdated coding," Murthy asserted. "It's the unsupervised algorithms leveraging deep learning and neural networks that hold far greater promise for increasingly human-like capabilities." Murthy went on to add that deep learning will be able to solve, and handle what are called "unsupervised algorithms". While machine learning by and large handles supervised algorithms because you have to give a lot of data into that, deep learning uses the data to create new branches of programs or new conditions. And then it will be able to take decisions. Infosys Co-Founder N R Narayana Murthy on Wednesday said job creation by innovative entrepreneurs, and not freebies, will help eliminate poverty. Speaking at the Tiecon Mumbai 2025 event here, Murthy exhorted entrepreneurs to focus on creating more businesses. Poverty will "vanish" like dew on a sunny morning if we are able to create innovative enterprises, he added. "I have no doubt that each of you will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and that is how you solve the problem of poverty, you don't solve the problem of poverty by freebies, no country has succeeded in that," Murthy said, addressing the entrepreneurs' grouping. At present, India feeds 80 crore people through monthly cash transfers. The comments from the renowned business leader come as a debate rages on freebies and their costs. Later, Murthy clarified that he does not know much on politics or governance, but gave some recommendations from a policy framework perspective.