Goldman Sachs Hires First AI Software Engineer Devin for Hybrid Workforce

Goldman Sachs has officially "hired" its first AI employee, Devin, a generative AI-based full-stack developer. According to Goldman CIO Marco Argenti in a CNBC interview, Devin will act as a new team member, executing tasks on behalf of human developers. Devin can build entire apps from scratch using natural-language prompts, making it the "first AI software engineer," as described by its creator, Cognition.

The Hybrid Workforce Vision

Devin is part of Argenti’s vision for a hybrid workforce, where AI agents collaborate with human employees. Shanker Ramamurthy, Managing Partner at IBM, highlighted how Devin could boost productivity: "If Devin increases productivity by 20%, Goldman’s 12,000 technologists can operate like 14,400."

AI’s Role in Finance

Finance is seeing the greatest value from AI, with applications like algorithmic trading and options pricing. Ramamurthy provided a hypothetical example: "A commodities trader could ask Devin about the impact of a news item on iron prices, and Devin could respond in half a second—while also building the app to execute the request."

Beyond GitHub Copilot

While tools like GitHub Copilot have revolutionized coding, Devin adds autonomy. Cognition designed Devin to be a "tireless teammate," capable of creating apps end-to-end, debugging, and testing independently. Public demos on YouTube show Devin building apps with just three natural-language prompts.

Industry Reaction

The announcement sparked debate, with some fearing job displacement. However, Argenti emphasized that Devin is a collaborator, not a replacement: "Engineers will need to describe problems coherently and supervise AI agents." Ramamurthy added, "Devin is about reimagining processes—human plus digital agent creates magic."

Key Takeaways:

• Devin is Goldman’s first AI employee, capable of building apps autonomously.
• The hybrid workforce model combines AI and human collaboration for greater efficiency.
• Finance is a prime sector for AI innovation, with Devin streamlining complex tasks.
• Devin’s autonomy sets it apart from earlier tools like GitHub Copilot.
• The focus remains on augmentation, not replacement, of human roles.