Coinbase CEO Revealed He Fired Engineers Who Didn't Use AI Tools | Hacker News Reader

Coinbase CEO Revealed He Fired Engineers Who Didn't Use AI Tools

finalroundai.com

48 pointsnnx25 comments

"Armstrong revealed that 33% of code written by AI now at Coinbase, with an ambitious target: We have a goal to get to 50% by the end of the quarter."

Ok, I strongly advise you don't leave any crypto at Coinbase, it's a matter of weeks before they get p0wned.

The CEO probably wouldn't entrust his own Horcruxes to their systems.

Great, I can't wait for the AI to accidentally open a back door and someone drains all of Coinbase coins.

If the people at the top think like that your coins aren't safe even without AI.

I friend of mine works for a company that forces engineers to use LLMs for everything: what you can do is to use the LLM to transcribe code just to reach certain level of API usage so to keep the CEO happy.

By using this method you can achieve 100% of code "written by AI", although they won't see an increase in productivity.

Who would jump into a Saturday meeting with his CEO? The insanity starts at the top of the story already.

"Truly great tools don't usually require threats to drive adoption."

A lot of programmers (even young ones) are really set in their ways so I'm going to disagree with that. However there are ways to encourage people to try new things without ultimatums.

Ive multiple times had to force programmers to use a debugger at least once (instead of only printing/logging). If they wouldn’t do it on their own whenever a bug stumped them where they needed my help I stepped into the debugger with them to demonstrate how easy to use it is & how much more info/control you get vs printing.

As someone who likes his debugger, I am not sure this debate is cut and dried. I still use printing fairly often, printing predictably works every time and is built in to every language. It also typically has much less of an observer effect than attaching a debugger.

I’m not forcing them to stop printing, I’m introducing an additional tool to their toolbox. For some reason ive offen seen resistance to even try learning how to use a debugger.

Classic crypto tactic, doesn't matter if it's useless, shove it everywhere it doesn't belong anyway!

It's free marketing for Coinbase.

I should have fired someone who refused to use Nix

Except that would impose SystemD on people who prefer UNIX principles rather than unnecessary complexity and obscurant, user-, and configuration-hostile "new" ways that aren't better than GNU Guix or GNU Stow.

I'm feeling a Poe's Law tickle here.

I've never understood the anger about systemd. Is it over-engineered? Probably. Have I ever had to worry about it not working? No.

Coinbase has employees in NY and CA i could be wrong but his admission of a reason for termination now allows employees terminated to sue them for wrongful termination with cause .

Not using AI isn't a protected class in either state.

true but terminating a employee for any given reason is grounds for a challenge. also one could argue that ai in this form is anti employee, us it or we will find someone who is willing to, is still considered duress. its the same argument of sign this non compete or we will fire you ( no lawyer or notary present) .

Sometimes I envy the salary of US programmers but then I read news like these and I'm happy that in my country you can't be fired for stupid reasons like these.

You got crypto on my AI!

You got AI on my crypto!

The worst Reece's Peanut Butter Cup ripoff.

Two great wastes, that waste great together. (could not resist)

How many licks..?

(Sorry, wrong commercial.)

Yes, they do have clowns at the circus. Good reason for any experiment: control group.

Garden variety narcissist and boundary bouncing. Some of those engineers might be upset. They shouldn't; good riddance to that environment.

How dare these employees refuse a request from their better, for an entire week.

Ultimately this is a hiring problem though. They should have tested more thoroughly for prompt obedience.

Coinbase is still in business?

Narcissistic, megalomaniac CEO strikes again - news at 11.

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