Goldman Sachs Limits Its AI Coding Tools to Engineers

The bank is reducing internal access to AI coding tools like Claude Code and GitHub and is closing its trial phase. The spokesperson cites productivity and risk management, while in July, the CTO supported prototypes created by non-technical staff.

The trial phase is over, productivity and risks are cited

Goldman Sachs spokesperson Nick Carcaterra explains that the decision to restrict access to AI coding tools is based on several factors, including productivity and risk management. He specifies that the experimentation period is now over and that only employees deemed best positioned to use these tools in the long term still have access. This change is apparently causing frustration among teams.

Access cut for most, engineers excepted

Goldman Sachs has revoked access to advanced AI coding tools for the majority of its employees, including Anthropic's Claude Code and Microsoft's GitHub. Only engineers can still use them, in accordance with internal guidelines from October. Prior to this restriction, traders and bankers had been using these tools for several months, notably to monitor trading flows and create content.

A turning point from the "vibe coding" touted in July

In July, Marco Argenti, Goldman Sachs' Chief Technology Officer, highlighted the "vibe coding" performed by non-technical employees. He described a process where a trader or asset manager could quickly design a prototype with the help of AI, before passing it on to an engineer for production scaling. This way of operating is no longer current.