GoKawiilPaysend CEO restricts AI tool access to top-performing engineers
Ben Chisell, CEO of London payments firm Paysend, said he only gives AI tools to employees who have already proven strong performance, rather than rolling access out to the whole company. He said this approach has helped Paysend get roughly 25% more engineering output from the same team size, while warning that AI can amplify bad habits like laziness and poor judgment if given to underperformers.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Chisell's stance contrasts with firms like Lloyds Banking Group, Sage and Grant Thornton UK, which have pushed broad AI access across their workforces and reported heavy usage. His comments suggest that simply distributing AI tools widely may not guarantee productivity gains, echoing UK government research cited in the report that found many organizations struggle to see measurable returns from AI adoption.
- Paysend restricts AI tool access to its highest-performing engineers rather than offering it companywide.
- CEO Ben Chisell estimates the approach yields about 25% more engineering output with the same team size.
- The strategy contrasts with peers like Lloyds, Sage and Grant Thornton UK, which have pursued broad AI rollouts.
Source: cnbc.com — Lindsay Dodgson, 2026-10-17
Published there as: “Some companies give AI to everyone. This CEO is doing the opposite”
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