Coinbase CEO explains why he fired engineers who didn’t try AI immediately

Coinbase, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, recently made headlines after its CEO, Brian Armstrong, explained the decision to fire engineers who did not immediately embrace the company's push for AI integration. According to the article, Coinbase had obtained licenses to cover every engineer, but some employees warned that the adoption of AI would be slow, predicting it would take months to get even half the engineers using the technology. However, Armstrong disagreed with this assessment and decided to take decisive action. The CEO argued that the company needed to move quickly to stay ahead of the competition and maintain its position in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency market. As a result, Coinbase let go of the engineers who did not demonstrate a strong commitment to the AI initiative, signaling the company's determination to prioritize technological innovation and adaptation. The article highlights the tensions that can arise when a company seeks to rapidly embrace new technologies, even when some employees express concerns about the pace of change.