Coinbase CEO says he 'went rogue' and fired some employees who didn't adopt AI after being told to

In a striking move, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed his uncompromising stance on artificial intelligence during a recent appearance on the 'Cheeky Pint' podcast. He disclosed that he has taken drastic measures against some employees who failed to embrace AI tools as mandated by the company. Armstrong expressed his frustration over the slow uptake of AI among engineers, stating that he had initially anticipated a gradual adoption over a couple of quarters. "Why can't every engineer just onboard by the end of the week?" he questioned, suggesting that he needed to take matters into his own hands. Taking a decisive step, he communicated directly with his team via Slack, outlining the urgency of integrating AI into their workflow. He made it clear that while daily use of AI tools was not yet required, onboarding should be completed within a week. The stakes were high, as Armstrong announced a follow-up meeting for those who had not complied, signaling potential repercussions for non-adopters. When the meeting took place, only a handful of employees attended. Armstrong noted that while some had valid reasons for their absence, others did not, resulting in immediate terminations for those who failed to show. This heavy-handed approach was intended to underscore the importance of AI in the company's operations, as Coinbase strives to increase AI-generated code to 50% by the end of the quarter. The push for AI adoption at Coinbase mirrors trends across the tech industry, where companies like Google have similarly urged their staff to integrate AI into their daily tasks. Notably, a recent Gallup survey indicated that leadership positions are adopting AI tools at nearly twice the rate of individual contributors, highlighting a growing disparity in AI utilization. Armstrong emphasized that while he encourages engineers to leverage AI, he does not advocate for complete reliance on it. He warned against the risks of 'vibe-coding' systems that manage financial transactions, stressing the importance of human oversight in the coding process. He also noted that AI use extends beyond engineering, with the design team at Coinbase actively employing AI in their projects. Even Armstrong himself admits to relying on AI frequently in his role as CEO, showcasing its growing influence throughout the organization.