Why Is The Social Media Divided On OLA CEO Bhavish Aggarwal's Tweet On LinkedIn AI Bot's "Pronouns Illness"?

Netizens have slammed OLA CEO Bhavish Aggarwal's tweet as being 'homophobic'.

New Delhi: OLA CEO Bhavish Aggarwal seems to have sparked a major debate on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) for his comments on the answer that LinkedIn AI Bot's threw up on asking about his bio.

Aggarwal asked LinkedIn AI Bot to throw up answer on the topic "Who Is Bhavish Aggarwal".

Sharing the screenshot of the answer, he wrote, "Screenshot is from LinkedIns AI bot. This “pronouns illness” is being perpetuated in India by MNCs without us Indians even realising it. Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India. Many “big city schools” in India are now teaching it to kids. Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly!"

Hoping that this “pronoun illness” doesn’t reach India.

Many “big city schools” in India are now teaching it to kids. Also see many CVs with pronouns these days. Need to know where to draw the line in following the west blindly! pic.twitter.com/q4CwiV6dkE

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) May 5, 2024

He further wrote, that most of the Indians are prone to this "pronouns illness" because of the country's corporate culture, especially MNCs. "Most of us in India have no clue about politics of this pronouns illness. People do it because it’s become expected in our corporate culture, especially MNCs. Better to send this illness back where it came from. Our culture has always had respect for all. No need for new pronouns," he further commented.

Most of us in India have no clue about politics of this pronouns illness. People do it because it’s become expected in our corporate culture, especially MNCs

Better to send this illness back where it came from. Our culture has always had respect for all. No need for new pronouns pic.twitter.com/lo3eLHDGpH

— Bhavish Aggarwal (@bhash) May 5, 2024

Internet however did not take Aggarwal's comments very kindly. Though some supported his comments, a lot of others criticized the CEO for being 'insensitive' and 'homophobic'. Check out some of the comments

You can change your bio to "Stuck in the past at Ola."

— ____ __ (@varungrover) May 6, 2024

I had started blocking everyone who put s/he/it (pronounced _) on LinkedIn and then discovered @LinkedIn itself is pushing this garbage. Time to delete it. It's worthless anyhow.

— Sanjay Mehta __ (@sanjaymehta) May 6, 2024

A person’s orientation is not an illness but an offering of the Gods! Whether you like it or not Bhavish, a good percentage of us Indians support the #LGBTQIA Community with all their might and the Pronouns are here to stay, crib as much as you want to!

You lead a business that… https://t.co/kuYD8vfJzJ

— Pranay Maheshwari (@itspmaheshwari) May 6, 2024

What rock have you been living under? They/them/their aren't new pronouns or unusual. I guess the need to display your transphobia overrides pretty much everything.

— Prapthi (@prapthi_m) May 6, 2024

were you dropped multiple times on your head when you were little or do you choose to be like this by choice?

— AG (@localmusichoeee) May 5, 2024

You could have chosen better words to draft your tweet, considering your stature and following.

— Vishakha (@vishakhatalreja) May 6, 2024

"Our culture has always had respect for all"-but not for people who want to choose their pronouns_. Tell me Bhavesh what difference does it make to your life? Why an AI being grammatically correct and gender neutral has offended you? I am assuming it would have offended you_

— Sakshi Narula (@mssakshinarula) May 6, 2024

Several others called out the Ola CEO for his 'homophobic' comments just ahead of the Pride Month --dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community-- which falls in the month of June.