‘Brain drain is costly,’ laments Sridhar Vembu as Trump advisor Sriram Krishnan says world must use US AI stack

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Sridhar Vembu, the founder of Zoho Corporation, expressed concern over the detrimental effects of brain drain, emphasizing the urgent need to retain the next generation of talent in India. His remarks came as Sriram Krishnan, a prominent advisor in the White House and advocate for the American AI stack, highlighted the importance of global adoption of U.S. artificial intelligence technologies. Sriram Krishnan, who was born in Chennai and became a U.S. citizen in 2016, has held significant roles in major tech companies such as Microsoft and Twitter. In his keynote address, he underscored his vision for American AI, stating, "We want to ensure that the world utilizes the American AI stack... and builds applications on top of it. Our goal is to facilitate an amazing and seamless business experience." Krishnan also touched on the strategic implications of AI investments, noting that the U.S. is projected to allocate at least $600 billion towards AI infrastructure, including data centers and computational resources. He asserted that India, as a key ally, should leverage this infrastructure while maintaining its strategic autonomy. "This doesn’t mean relinquishing control; Indian firms must incorporate local language support and cultural nuances into their AI solutions," he added. In a related discussion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed his vision for India to emerge as an AI powerhouse. In a recent interview with ANI, Modi emphasized that AI should prioritize human welfare and inclusivity. He pointed to India’s successes in initiatives like Aadhaar and UPI as foundational elements for building a robust digital infrastructure. "India's experience in creating human-centric Digital Public Infrastructure positions us uniquely to ensure that the benefits of AI reach everyone," Modi stated. He called upon Indian tech companies to not only provide services but also to innovate and develop AI products for global markets, leveraging the nation's rich talent pool and entrepreneurial spirit.