American executive thanks Perplexity AI's Aravind Srinivas for creating '100+ jobs': 'I'm employed because...'

Despite his accomplishments, Aravind Srinivas has faced challenges in obtaining a US green card.

An American executive at Perplexity AI recently expressed gratitude to Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-origin CEO of the company, for creating job opportunities in the United States. Dmitry Shevelenko, Chief Business Officer at Perplexity AI, publicly acknowledged on X (formerly Twitter) that his employment, along with that of over 100 others, was made possible by Srinivas’s efforts, despite the latter still working on a visa.

"I'm an American who is gainfully employed because an Indian immigrant on a visa founded a company in the US. Thx @AravSrinivas for creating 100+ American jobs," Shevelenko wrote, indirectly defending immigrant contributions amid a contentious debate on US immigration policies.

Im an American who is gainfully employed because an Indian immigrant on a visa founded a company in the US. Thx @AravSrinivas for creating 100+ American jobs.
Dmitry Shevelenko (@dmitry140) December 25, 2024

Shevelenko’s post coincided with heated discussions about immigration, triggered by criticism directed at Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-origin Senior White House Policy Advisor for AI under Donald Trump. Far-right voices, including political activist Laura Loomer, questioned whether an Indian immigrant could prioritise American interests.

Loomer, known for her vitriolic rhetoric, strongly opposed the use of H-1B visas for highly skilled workers and the issuance of green cards to immigrants. She argued that immigrants were taking jobs meant for Americans, particularly in STEM fields.

“Our country was built by white Europeans, actually. Not third-world invaders from India,” she claimed in a social media post, garnering support from a section of the internet echoing anti-immigrant sentiments.

Despite the backlash, Krishnan, now a naturalised US citizen, received significant support from various quarters. Advocates of skilled immigration highlighted the vital contributions of immigrants to the American economy. Shevelenko’s tribute to Srinivas served as an indirect defence of immigrant entrepreneurs, showcasing their role in fostering innovation and job creation.

Meanwhile, Chennai-born Aravind Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI in 2022 alongside Andy Konwinski, Denis Yarats, and Johnny Ho. An alumnus of IIT Madras and UC Berkeley, Srinivas previously worked at OpenAI before establishing Perplexity AI, a conversational search engine that has garnered attention and investments from prominent figures like Jeff Bezos.

Despite his accomplishments, Srinivas has faced challenges in obtaining a US green card, drawing attention to the systemic hurdles faced by highly skilled professionals. Elon Musk, among others, has advocated for reforms to address these issues and better retain global talent in the US.

Shevelenko’s post sparked diverse reactions on social media. While many praised Srinivas’s contributions, some questioned why he chose to establish his company in the US instead of India. Others defended the sentiment, emphasising the importance of enabling talented individuals to thrive wherever they choose to contribute.

One user wrote, "Let builders build in America. Where you are born doesn't matter, where you choose to build does. We need to keep attracting the top talent to continue to grow our economy."

Another user highlighted the disparity in immigration policies, stating, "And guess what, he's STILL ON A VISA, while fresh grads who came after him have green cards. Thanks to ANTI AMERICAN DEI country QUOTAS."

A third noted, "It will be safe to assume that America lost 100s of founders like Aravind if not 1000s in the last 25 years due to the existing skewed policy."

Others lamented the missed opportunity for India. "I wish he had this opportunity in India so that any Indian could have posted this lovely message," wrote a user.