Zoho's Sridhar Vembu says AI requires ‘meta level skills’, explains why clear thinking and problem-solving matter

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu said AI makes clear communication, problem-solving and spotting errors in AI-generated responses increasingly important, calling them 'meta level skills' that can significantly boost productivity.

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu has said that artificial intelligence (AI) is making skills such as clear communication, breaking down complex problems and identifying errors in AI-generated responses increasingly important, describing them as “meta level skills”.

He said these capabilities, traditionally required of system architects, are now helping people significantly improve their productivity with AI.

“We are seeing all this in action already,” Vembu said in a reply to an X user who asked whether employees who become proficient in using AI tend to take on more work and responsibilities, while those not using the technology for productivity continue working at a slower pace.

Vembu said effective AI use depends on clearly defining requirements, dividing complicated tasks into smaller, manageable parts and recognising when AI veers off course so it can be guided back in the right direction.

Explaining what people need to work effectively with AI, Vembu stated, “AI requires us that we state what we want clearly (for which we need to know what we want!), break up complex problems into manageable chunks to feed AI, detect when AI is drifting and bring it back on the rails. These are meta level skills.”

He added that these skills are precisely what system architects have needed and that AI is now substantially boosting their productivity.

The comments came after an X user, @sindhuharih, asked whether people who become proficient in using AI in their respective fields end up getting busier by taking on more work.

What did Vembu say about AI replacing jobs?

The exchange followed another post by Vembu warning about the potential impact of AI on computer-based jobs.

Garvit Bhirani