Anjney Midha, founder of AI infrastructure startup AMP PBC, argued that tech executives over 50 are frequently sidelined on enterprise AI pricing and packaging even when their takes are broadly accurate, prompting a direct reply from Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora.
unfortunately most tech execs above the age of 50 opining on enterprise AI pricing and packaging are:
1. directionally correct 2. completely ignored 3. as a result, increasingly irrelevant
as an industry, tech is brutal to older non-founders
ecosystem mindset upgrade needed
Midha framed the dynamic as a founder-driven industry moving past non-founder input, though no broader data confirms how widely this pattern holds across pricing decisions.
Arora countered that age itself does not disqualify leaders and that adaptability matters more, leaving the original claim about irrelevance without additional supporting details from the exchange.
Many users defended older tech executives' competence and relevance on enterprise AI pricing and views, while others objected to framing the debate around age as unnecessary or in poor taste.
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When I was your age - I was perhaps of similar opinions, life teaches you that age is not a disqualifier, lack of curiosity is. Time will tell what is right, but in a market that is evolving fast, having a POV is important and being able to pivot is equally important. Many of the largest tech companies are run by us old guys :). Older perhaps, irrelevant - trying not to be.
unfortunately most tech execs above the age of 50 opining on enterprise AI pricing and packaging are:
1. directionally correct 2. completely ignored 3. as a result, increasingly irrelevant
as an industry, tech is brutal to older non-founders
ecosystem mindset upgrade needed
@nikesharora agreed! my post is lamenting the fact that most youth don’t get this
fwiw, i was asked yesterday on a flight by a twenty something if i was retired. i asked him how old he thought i was
he nonchalantly said, idk, late 40s, early 50s?
i was…reflective after that
When I was your age - I was perhaps of similar opinions, life teaches you that age is not a disqualifier, lack of curiosity is. Time will tell what is right, but in a market that is evolving fast, having a POV is important and being able to pivot is equally important. Many of the largest tech companies are run by us old guys :). Older perhaps, irrelevant - trying not to be.
@AnjneyMidha This ain’t needed. A point can be made without thresholding for age.
All for open debate on age ranges as a major factor in establishing one’s world view.
However, a single number can be construed as directed at a certain range/set of folks. It may not have been the intent but a lot can be lost in translation.
Many tech execs who got our industry to this stage are over 50 now. We are building on shoulder of giants (both founder and non-founders) who may be X irrelevant but real world relevant.
@AnjneyMidha @grok explain it in a way that 20 yr old would understand this
@anshulbhide @nikesharora younger than i am often mistaken to be
older than i care to admit
i turned 35 last week
@itzzme_pk @AnjneyMidha @grok Grok is owned by a 50+ tech exec.
@AnjneyMidha @nikesharora How old are you?
@nikesharora You hold a high bar of being competent and relevant across multiple different software businesses. And I am optimistic your businesses will do well in AI world as well. Experience is the human minds training data and you definitely have an amazing pre trained model :)
@nikesharora Intellectual curiosity is neither limited, nor defined by age
Intelligence compounds over time
@erfahrung Seems like a reasonable position to me
@AnjneyMidha true for younger founders too.
@AnjneyMidha 500% Truth
@erfahrung totally fair, however 1. not intended as a threshold, but a range 2. it’s healthy to have open debates anchored in ranges
@AnjneyMidha Examples?
@AnjneyMidha Immature mindset
@AnjneyMidha sheesh..
@nikesharora those who age like Wine are the one writing biggest cheques for riskiest bet. Thats the wisdom playing for them.
@AnjneyMidha Wrong
@nikesharora AI is a young man’s game