Goldman Sachs has become the first major bank to integrate an autonomous AI software engineer into its development operations, launching a pilot program with Devin, an advanced AI agent developed by startup Cognition Labs. The investment bank is testing the system across its 12,000-person programming team, with hundreds of Devin instances initially deployed and potential expansion to thousands depending on performance outcomes.
Led by Chief Information Officer Marco Argenti, the initiative focuses on assigning Devin repetitive programming tasks including legacy code management, refactoring, and debugging operations. The AI system, currently running version 2.1, has demonstrated productivity improvements of three to four times compared to previous AI tools, while operating under continuous human supervision in what Goldman describes as a “hybrid workforce” model. Devin’s capabilities include autonomous code management, debugging, and communication within development teams, positioning it as a “digital employee” rather than a replacement for human programmers.
The deployment represents a significant milestone for both Goldman Sachs and the broader financial services industry’s adoption of AI technology. Cognition Labs, founded in 2023 by former competitive programming champions and backed by investors including Peter Thiel, achieved a valuation of nearly $4 billion by March 2025. While the AI system can autonomously resolve 13.9% of GitHub issues, well above industry averages, Goldman emphasises that human oversight remains essential, with engineers required to transform problems into intelligent prompts and verify Devin’s work output.
