Why Coinbase’s CEO fired engineers who didn’t adopt AI

“Some people really didn’t like it by the way, that heavy-handed approach,” Armstrong said. “But I think it did set some clarity at least that we need to lean into this and learn about it.

Coinbase’s approach comes amid the widespread implementation of AI tools in workplaces. Findings from the Boston Consulting Group earlier this year revealed that 72% of employees are now using AI at least several times a week.

At Coinbase, Armstrong shared that they are trying to expand the use of AI outside of the company’s engineers to its product managers and employees under Financial Planning and Analysis.

“Even as CEO, by the way, I use it a lot,” Armstrong said. “We have a row now for AI that writes its input in as one of the people that help make decisions.”

“So we’re testing the limits of it. You know, when can it actually start to be the decision maker on some things and do better than humans?”