🇮🇳 India Has Nearly 17 Million Developers
Anshul Ramachandran, from AI‑coding platform Windsurf (formerly Codeium), highlighted that India is now home to nearly 17 million software developers, second only to the U.S.
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👥 AI Won’t Replace Developers — Just Help Them
Ramachandran argues that warnings about AI displacing developers are often exaggerated — sometimes “a very good excuse” for layoffs, or a way for AI companies to market their tools
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. Instead, he sees AI as a productivity booster, not a job eliminator.
🌟 India: A Core Market for AI Tool Adoption
Windsurf values India as its second-largest market after the U.S. and is actively expanding teams and considering building GPU clusters there. He praised Indian developers and IT firms for being early and enthusiastic adopters of AI
💡 Tactics Behind AI Narratives
According to Ramachandran, some AI company leaders amplify fears of AI replacing human coders to drive model sales. He suggests the narrative often serves business motives rather than reflecting reality
🎯 Why It Matters
Massive talent pool: With ~17 million coders, India’s developer ecosystem is a fertile ground for generative AI tools.
Boost, not replace: AI is positioned as a “co-pilot” — enhancing coding efficiency without removing the human element.
Industry acceleration: High AI adoption rates in India could accelerate global standards in software engineering.
🔠In Perspective
In the broader AI discourse:
The discourse on AI “replacement” often serves seller aims more than reflecting actual trends.
Instead, expect AI-assisted workflows to dominate — helping developers write, debug, and deploy faster.
India’s sheer developer numbers make it a key battleground for adoption and innovation.
Want to explore more? I can share insights from Windsurf’s CEO Varun Mohan on how AI is reshaping developer roles and startup dynamics, including his vision of “vibe coding” and building lean, agile teams.
