Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal criticized LinkedIn after the platform removed his post on “pronoun illness”, arguing that the AI moderation is imposing a political ideology on Indian users. He shared a note from LinkedIn about the removal and expressed his concerns about the platform’s actions. Aggarwal emphasized the need for India to build its own tech and AI to avoid being influenced by external political objectives.
In his earlier post, Aggarwal had criticized non-binary pronouns and referred to them as an “illness” from Western countries. He shared a screenshot of an AI bot from LinkedIn that used “they” and “them” pronouns for him, calling it a perpetuation of the “pronouns illness” in India. The AI bot’s response to Aggarwal’s profile highlighted his professional achievements and skills using non-binary pronouns, which Aggarwal deemed unacceptable.
Aggarwal’s criticism of LinkedIn’s AI moderation reflects his belief that foreign platforms are imposing their political ideologies on Indian users. He called for the development of indigenous technology and AI to prevent such external influence. By highlighting his own experience with LinkedIn’s removal of his post and the use of non-binary pronouns by the AI bot, Aggarwal raised concerns about the potential impact on Indian users who may not align with these ideologies.
The controversy surrounding Aggarwal’s posts on gender pronouns and LinkedIn’s response underscores the ongoing debate about the influence of Western ideologies on Indian society. Aggarwal’s stance against non-binary pronouns and his call for India to develop its own technology to counter external influence reflect broader concerns about cultural imperialism and the need to preserve national identity. The incident also raises questions about the role of social media platforms in shaping discourse and imposing particular political ideologies.
Aggarwal’s criticism of LinkedIn’s AI moderation and its removal of his post highlights the challenges of navigating online spaces where algorithms dictate content visibility and compliance with platform policies. The incident serves as a reminder of the power dynamics at play in the digital realm, where individuals and organizations must contend with the influence of AI-driven processes that may not always align with their beliefs or values. As debates about online censorship and content regulation continue, Aggarwal’s experience serves as a case study in navigating these complexities.
Overall, Bhavish Aggarwal’s confrontation with LinkedIn over the removal of his post on gender pronouns sheds light on the broader issues of cultural influence, political ideologies, and technological autonomy in the digital age. His advocacy for India to develop its own tech and AI capabilities in response to external influences reflects a growing awareness of the need to safeguard national identity and cultural values in the face of globalized digital platforms. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of online discourse and the challenges of navigating algorithmic moderation in a rapidly changing digital landscape.