Former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka has rejected growing warnings that artificial intelligence could eventually pose an existential threat to humanity, describing such claims as “nonsense”.

Speaking to India Today TV, Sikka questioned the reasoning behind predictions that AI could lead to humanity’s destruction. He also pointed out that some of the strongest warnings are coming from people working at leading frontier AI laboratories.

“I think that this talk about AI ending humanity — this is all nonsense,” Sikka said.

His comments come amid increasing debate over the potential risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems. While researchers and technology leaders have raised concerns about issues including AI safety, misuse and the possibility of systems becoming difficult to control, Sikka takes a more sceptical view of predictions centred on human extinction.

He questioned why individuals working at some of the world’s most advanced AI labs are making such warnings, adding that the reasoning behind their statements is not always clear to him.

Sikka, who served as Infosys CEO from 2014 to 2017, has remained active in discussions around technology and artificial intelligence. His latest remarks add to the broader debate between those highlighting potential catastrophic AI risks and those who believe the technology’s risks can be managed through responsible development and governance.