In a notable announcement reflecting the increasing significance of artificial intelligence in technology, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong revealed that 40 percent of the company’s daily code is now generated by AI. He also mentioned intentions to raise this percentage to over 50 percent by next month, indicating a swift adoption of AI-driven development within the cryptocurrency trading platform. Founded in June 2012, Coinbase offers digital currency wallets and a trading platform enabling consumers and merchants to buy, sell, and manage cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Armstrong shared this news on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “40 percent of daily code written at Coinbase is AI-generated.
I want to get it to >50 percent by October.” He emphasized the necessity for review and comprehension of AI-generated code, noting that not all business areas can utilize it. He advocates for responsible use as much as possible. Additionally, Armstrong pointed out the growth trajectory of AI adoption within the firm. A graph shared by him indicates that in April 2025, only around 18 percent of Coinbase’s code was AI-generated. Since then, the integration of AI tools has steadily risen, demonstrating the company’s confidence in AI to enhance its development processes.
Nevertheless, Armstrong remains wary of the potential consequences of AI displacing human roles, asserting that “not all areas of the business can use AI-generated code” and promoting responsible and targeted AI usage. This cautious perspective aligns with ongoing discussions in the tech sector regarding the effects of AI on employment. Supporting this viewpoint, Aparna Chennapragada, Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer for Experience and Devices, has countered the idea that coding is becoming obsolete.
She stated, “A lot of folks think about, ‘Oh, don’t bother studying computer science or coding is dead,’ and I just fundamentally disagree.” Chennapragada noted that while AI might change coding roles, “There’ll be an order of magnitude more software operators [and presumably fewer software engineers in the conventional sense].” She stressed that knowledge of computer science is vital, describing it as “a way of thinking, and it’s a mental model.” Coinbase is not the only company harnessing AI to speed up software development. Major tech firms like Microsoft and Google are increasingly employing AI-generated code to enhance productivity.
Just days prior to announcing layoffs affecting 9,000 employees, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella disclosed that AI already accounts for about 30 percent of the company’s internal code. Similarly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai noted that AI contributes to over a quarter of the company’s programming efforts, with chief economist Fabien Curto Millet recognizing the productivity benefits of this technology. These instances underscore a broader trend in the tech industry: AI is swiftly becoming a crucial collaborator in coding, optimizing development and improving efficiency while companies manage the fine line between automation and human skill.