Start free trial

The trick: Zero Underneath

Zoho told staff there is no pay rise this year because AI made servers cost four times more.

The only Zoho results in this record show a profit of Rs 3,191.5 crore, and no figure for what AI costs.

Issue 4515 October 202611 receipts3 min
A shut pay window with a NOT THIS YEAR sign, a server rack with a 4X price tag, and a ledger beside a tall stack of coins.
AI illustration

Sridhar Vembu said AI has raised costs dramatically, with server prices up 4-fold, so Zoho staff get no usual pay rise this year.

Before you read on. Your call?

MediaNama reports Zoho's FY25 operating revenue at Rs 12,313 crore and net profit at Rs 3,191.5 crore. Expenditure rose 30.5%; employee costs and advertising were its two largest named lines. Nothing in this record gives Zoho's own server or AI spend.

There’s more to this story.

Membership opens the full investigation, the strongest counterargument and what to do with what you’ve learned.

30 days free, then A$89 a year. Payment card required. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid the first charge.

Review my 30-day free trial →
  1. At sign-up: 30 days free. Payment card required. One introductory trial per customer.
  2. Your trial ends 30 days after you start. Unless you cancel before then in Account → Manage subscription, we charge A$89 for the first year. It renews automatically at A$89/yr until cancelled.
  3. You can ask for a full refund within 14 days after any annual payment, renewals included, with no reason needed, by emailing hello@bskiller.com. This voluntary refund does not limit your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

By starting your trial, you agree to the Terms.

BS Killer is published by Inferno Tech Pty Ltd, ABN 27 647 413 474.

Already a member? Sign in

The trick has a name

We call it Zero Underneath: the headline number has nothing behind it. You'll see it again. Learn to spot it →

Say this in tomorrow's meeting“Zoho blames a 4-fold rise in server prices for no pay rises. Its last filed year still made Rs 3,191.5 crore in profit, and no Zoho AI bill is in the record.”

Receipts

  1. Supports x.com: massive 4-fold increase in server prices which we need for data centers
  2. Supports english.gujaratsamachar.com: We have told our employees that we cannot have our usual pay increase this year
  3. Supports english.gujaratsamachar.com: the outlook for software jobs in general is grim
  4. Supports greatandhra.com: I have apologised for not being able to avoid this
  5. Context greatandhra.com: Zoho has not increased its employee count for the past 18 months
  6. Context greatandhra.com: Vembu said the company has also reduced its marketing budget as part of efforts to control costs.
  7. Context medianama.com: operating revenue of Rs 12,313 crore
  8. Refutes medianama.com: net profit declined by more than 3% to Rs 3,191.5 crore
  9. Refutes medianama.com: total expenditure rose 30.5% to Rs 9216.6 crore in FY25 from Rs 7,061.6 crore in FY24
  10. Context medianama.com: Employee Costs: Jumped to Rs 4,347.2 crore, up 29% YoY
  11. Context medianama.com: Advertising and Promotional Expenses: Rose to Rs 2,230.3 crore, up 31% YoY

Open the Receipts Pack → What each source proves, every figure traced, and what would change our verdict.

Get tomorrow's check in your inbox.

One AI claim a night, checked against independent sources, receipts attached. Free.

Free email updates. Unsubscribe any time.

This story is a stable, citable object. If you can falsify a verdict,tell us. Corrections are loud here.