Coinbase’s CEO, 42-year-old Brian Armstrong, told engineers to start using AI coding assistants immediately. He said this after the company bought enterprise licenses for GitHub Copilot, and Cursor.
Fortune reported that the demand applied to some employees at Coinbase’s U.S. operations. It came in a Slack message that set a one-week deadline. Armstrong said he wanted the team to learn the tools fast so the firm could move faster with its engineering work.
CEO mandate
Armstrong pushed the change hard, and he posted in Slack and asked every engineer to onboard the new tools by the end of the week. He said onboarding should not take quarters. He wanted people to set up the tools at least and try them.
He told staff he would hold a meeting on Saturday for anyone who did not comply. The goal was clear, he said: learn the tools now.
He stated, “40% of daily code written at Coinbase is AI-generated. I want to get it to >50% by October. Obviously, it needs to be reviewed and understood, and not all areas of the business can use AI-generated code. But we should be using it responsibly as much as we possibly can.”
Saturday showdown
Armstrong kept his promise, and he met with engineers who had not been onboarded. Some had genuine reasons, like being away on travel. Others had no good excuse, and according to Armstrong, those without a reason were let go.
The episode drew criticism from some who saw the move as heavy-handed. Armstrong said the firm needed a clear rule to demonstrate the critical importance of AI for its future.
Also Read: Story Co-founder Jason Zhao Steps Down To Launch New AI Project Poseidon
Companywide push
Beyond the Slack order, Coinbase runs regular events to spread AI know-how. The company hosts monthly “AI speedruns,” and at these sessions, an employee who uses AI well gives a short seminar for colleagues.
Armstrong said about 33% of the company’s code is now written with AI help. He set a target of 50% by the end of the quarter. He also urged non-engineering teams to try the tools. Armstrong added that he uses AI often in his own work.
Tools gaining traction
AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot and Cursor are becoming common tools for programmers. They help fill gaps, speed up routine tasks, and suggest code. A GitHub survey of 500 U.S. programmers at large firms found that 92% were already using tools like these.
The same survey showed 70% felt the tools gave them an advantage at work. That trend gave leaders at many tech firms reason to push for fast adoption. CEOs at other big tech firms have also urged or required staff to use AI tools.
Why AI matters?
AI tools can save time on repetitive work, and they can suggest fixes and draft code snippets. That frees engineers to work on harder problems, and for companies, faster code production can cut costs.
It can also speed product updates and reduce time to market, and leaders who back AI say it is not just a tool. They call it a force that will change how teams work, and some executives warn that wide AI use could also change hiring needs in the long run.
What comes next?
Coinbase’s order shows how some leaders are treating AI as a must-have skill.
The firm wants engineers to learn the tools quickly and to use them for a growing share of work. The move may push other companies to set similar rules.
Also Read: Crypto Hackers Earn $20k Monthly From AI Voice Phishing Scam Targeted At Crypto Executives