AI transforming UI development at Zoho is no longer a future concept but a present-day reality, according to Zoho co-founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu. Sharing insights from within the company, Vembu explained how artificial intelligence is reshaping software workflows, significantly speeding up delivery while reinforcing that engineers remain fully responsible for the code they ship.
Zoho has adopted AI coding tools across teams, but with a clear boundary. Vembu stressed that AI is an assistant, not an authority. Engineers must review, approve, and take ownership of every line of code generated. Importantly, Zoho does not mandate the use of AI tools. Experienced engineers are trusted to decide when and how AI best fits into their development process.
This balanced approach reflects Zoho’s long-standing engineering culture. Rather than chasing automation for its own sake, the company is focused on improving productivity without diluting accountability. AI is positioned as a force multiplier that enhances human judgment instead of replacing it, especially in complex and performance-sensitive areas like user interface development.
Vembu highlighted a striking example involving a senior engineer with nearly 20 years of experience. The engineer was working on a demanding UI feature where performance and precision were critical. With AI support, tasks that previously required close to three weeks were completed in a single day. The speed gain was dramatic, but Vembu was clear about the reason behind it.
AI did not work independently. The engineer provided the architectural structure, constraints, and intent. The AI filled in the repetitive and detail-heavy portions. Experience remained central to guiding the process, validating outputs, and ensuring the final result met Zoho’s quality standards. In Vembu’s words, AI accelerated execution, but human expertise shaped the outcome.
Beyond senior engineers, AI transforming UI development at Zoho is also reshaping opportunities for junior staff. Vembu shared the case of a young engineer who built an internal tool using AI assistance. The tool proved useful enough that other teams began adopting it. Without AI, the engineer would not have been able to build the system at that stage of their career.
This highlights one of AI’s most powerful effects inside Zoho. It lowers the barrier to entry for complex problem-solving while accelerating learning. Junior engineers gain hands-on exposure to building real tools, not just prototypes, helping them develop confidence and practical skills much earlier in their careers.
At the same time, Zoho remains cautious. AI usage does not remove the need for deep understanding. Engineers are expected to know what the code does, why it works, and where it might fail. Responsibility does not shift to the tool. It stays firmly with the human developer, regardless of how much AI assistance is involved.
Vembu expressed particular optimism about AI’s role in UI development. User interfaces often involve repetitive patterns, extensive styling, and careful tuning. These are areas where AI can deliver immediate value by handling routine elements, allowing engineers to focus on design decisions, performance optimization, and user experience.
Crucially, Zoho views AI as an accelerator, not a substitute for talent. The company’s leadership believes that teams combining strong fundamentals with AI assistance will outperform those relying on automation alone. This philosophy also helps avoid over-dependence on tools that may generate plausible but flawed outputs if left unchecked.
Vembu clarified that his observations are based on collective experience across Zoho, not on personal research experiments. The company’s real-world usage has shaped its view that AI works best when paired with accountability, judgment, and engineering discipline.
As AI transforming UI development at Zoho continues to mature, the company’s approach offers a clear lesson for the wider industry. Speed gains are real, but sustainable progress comes from blending AI capabilities with human responsibility.
Tools may evolve rapidly, but ownership, experience, and intent remain irreplaceable. For more in-depth coverage on how AI is reshaping software development and enterprise innovation, visit ainewstoday.org and stay ahead of the curve in the AI-driven future.
