Narayana Murthy Calls India's AI Hype 'Silly Old Programs'

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.