‘Forest rangers, local temple priests, classical musicians’: Sridhar Vembu names career he believes will remain safe from AI disruption

Sridhar Vembu has once again weighed in on the global AI debate, this time offering a reflective perspective on the kinds of work that may remain relevant despite rapid technological advances.

Zoho boss names jobs that will remain unaffected by AI

In a detailed post on X, he avoided publishing a typical list of “AI-proof” careers focused on technical skills or future-ready degrees. Instead, he highlighted human-centred roles and vocations driven more by purpose than by pay.

Vembu began by questioning how modern society defines self-worth. He argued that if individuals measure their value solely through economic productivity or intellectual status, the rise of AI could spark a profound identity crisis.

As machines increasingly master tasks associated with prestige and income, many white-collar jobs may lose their exclusivity.

However, he maintained that certain forms of work remain largely insulated because they are grounded in care, culture, and community rather than output and efficiency.

Among the examples he cited were caring for children, educating young students, supporting the elderly, returning to farming after leaving a lucrative corporate role, working as forest rangers out of a love for nature, serving as local temple priests who conduct daily rituals regardless of attendance, and practising as classical musicians who perform whether or not there is a large audience.

"If our notion of self-worth comes from the economic value we add, or if it comes our intellectual pretense (*cough*), AI may pose a serious challenge to our self-worth," the Zoho founder said.

"On the other hand no one takes up activities like taking care of children, teaching children, taking care of the elderly, coming back to farming leaving a well paying job, going into the forest as rangers because they love the forest, local temple priests who do the daily rituals even when no one shows up at the temple, classical musicians who practise daily and perform for even very small crowds - none of them do it because those activities pay well. They will be unaffected by AI. Humanity may organize itself more towards such activity," he added.

According to Vembu, people who pursue such paths are not primarily motivated by money, and so he suggested, this is precisely why AI cannot erode their sense of meaning.

He added that as technology increasingly handles efficiency-driven tasks, society may gradually reorganise itself around more purposeful and community-oriented pursuits.

If our notion of self-worth comes from the economic value we add, or if it comes our intellectual pretense (*cough*), AI may pose a serious challenge to our self-worth.

On the other hand no one takes up activities like taking care of children, teaching children, taking care of…

— Sridhar Vembu (@svembu) February 27, 2026

Also read: ‘Three more semiconductor plants to start operations by the end of 2026’: IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (startuppedia.in)