Coinbase is taking a firm stance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, with CEO Brian Armstrong leading the charge. Engineers who declined to incorporate AI into their workflow were dismissed from the company. Armstrong, in a podcast, emphasized Coinbase’s commitment to integrating AI across its tech teams. The company issued a directive requiring engineers to master AI tools, such as GitHub Copilot and Cursor, within one week. The ultimatum, communicated via the company’s Slack channel, underscored the critical nature of AI. A meeting was held for non-compliant engineers, and those unable to justify their resistance were terminated. The impact of AI at Coinbase is evident, with AI currently generating 33% of the code. The company aims to increase this figure to 50% by the end of the current financial quarter. Monthly AI Speed Runs are conducted to encourage and showcase innovative AI usage. Despite the increased reliance on AI, Coinbase has emphasized that human oversight will remain crucial, especially given the financial sensitivity of its platform. This decision by Coinbase reflects the evolving landscape of the tech industry, where AI competency is becoming essential. Those who adapted to AI are now coding more effectively, whereas those who did not were terminated.
Coinbase Cracks Down: AI Adoption Mandatory for Engineers, Those Refusing Face Dismissal
