Robinhood CEO Says AI-Generated Code Accounts for Majority of New Code

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev estimates that "a minority" of the company's new code is written by humans, with "close to 100%" of engineers using AI code editors. Tenev said it's become difficult to distinguish human-written from AI-generated code, with the company using tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Windsurf. He estimates around 50% of Robinhood's new code is AI-generated, a higher percentage than what Microsoft and Google have previously said.

Robinhood, the $88 billion fintech giant, is increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) for coding tasks, according to CEO Vlad Tenev. Speaking on the 20VC Podcast, Tenev revealed that around 50% of the new code at Robinhood is generated by AI, a higher percentage than what has been reported by Microsoft and Google [1].

Tenev noted that distinguishing between human-written and AI-generated code has become challenging due to the adoption of advanced AI tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, and Windsurf. He emphasized that nearly 100% of Robinhood's engineers use AI code editors, further blurring the lines between human and AI-generated work [2].

The impact of AI on Robinhood's hiring practices remains unclear. Despite the significant use of AI, Tenev stated that the company's lean headcount relative to its size and revenues may not change dramatically. Tenev emphasized that he wants Robinhood staff to "execute relentlessly," suggesting that AI adoption may not lead to significant job losses [1].

In contrast, traditional finance firms like Citi have experienced a different impact. Citi revealed that a new AI tool had cut 100,000 hours of developer time, coinciding with increased severance payments due to workforce realignment [1].

Robinhood's AI adoption has contributed to cost and efficiency stabilization, according to Tenev. While the exact internal usage of AI remains mum, its impact on teams ranging from software engineering to customer support has been substantial [2].

As Robinhood continues to expand its crypto venture and roll out new products, its reliance on AI for coding tasks is likely to grow. However, the long-term implications for the company's workforce and the broader financial services industry remain to be seen.

References:
[1] https://www.efinancialcareers.com/news/robinhood-ai-coding
[2] https://www.businessinsider.com/robinhood-ceo-majority-new-code-ai-generated-engineer-adoption-2025-7