San Francisco/IBNS: Daksh Gupta, Indian-origin CEO of the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) startup Greptile, recently ignited a fierce online debate after candidly sharing details about his company's intense work environment.

Known for his transparent approach, Gupta revealed in a social media post that Greptile demands 84-hour workweeks with little room for work-life balance.

His disclosure drew polarised reactions, ranging from death threats to enthusiastic job applications, forcing the young entrepreneur to defend his stance amid growing criticism. 

In a now-viral tweet, Gupta laid bare the reality of working at Greptile, highlighting grueling schedules that stretch from 9 am to well past 11 pm, often including weekends.

"I’ve started telling candidates during the first interview that Greptile offers no work-life balance," he wrote. "It felt wrong initially, but I now believe this level of transparency is better—people should know what they’re signing up for before their first day." 

The post quickly amassed over 1.6 million views, sparking a heated conversation about labor practices in tech. While some lauded Gupta’s honesty, others accused him of fostering an exploitative work environment.

Critics questioned the sustainability of such a culture, with one user asking, "Why would someone choose to work for you when you're asking for twice the effort without equivalent compensation?"

Another remarked, "Wouldn’t giving employees weekends off improve productivity and work quality in fewer hours? What's the trade-off here?" 

Acknowledging the backlash, Gupta followed up with a tweet addressing the controversy.

“Now that this has hit Reddit’s front page and my inbox is 20 percent death threats and 80 percent job applications, here’s a follow-up,” he wrote.

The CEO defended Greptile’s demanding culture as a temporary necessity for a startup in its early stages, clarifying that it’s not intended as a long-term model. 

Gupta also expressed empathy for overworked tech professionals, particularly those outside the United States, stating, "To everyone feeling overworked and underpaid, especially abroad, I understand why this struck a nerve. Our team members had cushy, six-figure, 20-hour workweek jobs before joining and can return to them anytime." 

While acknowledging the model isn’t suitable for everyone, Gupta argued that some individuals thrive in high-pressure environments like Greptile's.

He also addressed racial criticism, rejecting assumptions that his demanding work ethic stemmed from his Indian heritage.

“For those bringing up my Indian background, I want to clarify: I’m this way because I’m San Franciscan, not Indian,” he tweeted. 

As the debate continues, Gupta remains steadfast in his belief that transparency—however controversial—will ultimately attract the right kind of talent to Greptile.