Swedish fintech giant Klarna has been in the headlines for its bold AI-driven approach, but CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski is now revealing a surprisingly hands-on side. Speaking on the podcast , Siemiatkowski explained how he uses “vibe coding” — the practice of using AI to translate natural language into code — to convey ideas directly to his engineers.
“I have never coded, right? I was a business person. Now, thanks to vibe coding, I can produce a prototype in 20 minutes,” Siemiatkowski told the podcast. He added that the technique allows him to test ideas independently before involving his team. “Rather than disturbing my poor engineers and product people with what is half good ideas and half bad ideas, now I test it myself.”
AI, Humans, and Lessons Learned
Klarna’s AI enthusiasm has been both celebrated and scrutinized. In 2024, the firm famously claimed that its AI assistants could replace 700 full-time agents. Yet customer frustrations and high call volumes forced a course correction, redeploying engineers and staff to handle frontline service, as reported by Business Insider.
Siemiatkowski has acknowledged the limitations of AI. In a Bloomberg interview, he admitted over-prioritizing cost had “lowered quality” and emphasized the enduring importance of human expertise. This real-world lesson has not stopped him from experimenting with AI for prototyping, demonstrating a balance between innovation and caution.
Vibe Coding in Practice
The CEO described his daily routine with vibe coding as a personal experiment in rapid iteration. He walks into meetings, sketches out product concepts verbally, and relies on AI to create a working prototype. “I come and say, ‘Look, I’ve actually made this work. What do you think? Could we do it this way?’” he said. The method reportedly saves engineers considerable time, allowing them to refine a concept rather than starting from scratch.
Vibe coding is gaining traction across the tech world. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently admitted to experimenting with AI coding assistants to consolidate web resources for a personal project. Yet the approach comes with risks. A report from Fastly noted that 95 percent of developers surveyed spent extra time fixing AI-generated code, highlighting challenges around security and maintainability.
The Human-AI Equation
Experts warn that overreliance on AI could reduce developers’ ability to identify flaws, creating long-term vulnerabilities. MIT computer scientist Daniel Jackson cautioned in Wired that poorly monitored AI coding could produce “broken code full of security vulnerabilities” and erode programming skills.
Despite these challenges, Klarna’s CEO remains bullish. For Siemiatkowski, vibe coding represents a bridge between business creativity and technological execution. “I’ve been vibe coding my whole life,” he said. “The only difference is now I’m sitting with a computer and doing it with AI, producing prototypes in 20 minutes.”
“I have never coded, right? I was a business person. Now, thanks to vibe coding, I can produce a prototype in 20 minutes,” Siemiatkowski told the podcast. He added that the technique allows him to test ideas independently before involving his team. “Rather than disturbing my poor engineers and product people with what is half good ideas and half bad ideas, now I test it myself.”
AI, Humans, and Lessons Learned
Klarna’s AI enthusiasm has been both celebrated and scrutinized. In 2024, the firm famously claimed that its AI assistants could replace 700 full-time agents. Yet customer frustrations and high call volumes forced a course correction, redeploying engineers and staff to handle frontline service, as reported by Business Insider.
Siemiatkowski has acknowledged the limitations of AI. In a Bloomberg interview, he admitted over-prioritizing cost had “lowered quality” and emphasized the enduring importance of human expertise. This real-world lesson has not stopped him from experimenting with AI for prototyping, demonstrating a balance between innovation and caution.
Vibe Coding in Practice
The CEO described his daily routine with vibe coding as a personal experiment in rapid iteration. He walks into meetings, sketches out product concepts verbally, and relies on AI to create a working prototype. “I come and say, ‘Look, I’ve actually made this work. What do you think? Could we do it this way?’” he said. The method reportedly saves engineers considerable time, allowing them to refine a concept rather than starting from scratch.
Vibe coding is gaining traction across the tech world. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently admitted to experimenting with AI coding assistants to consolidate web resources for a personal project. Yet the approach comes with risks. A report from Fastly noted that 95 percent of developers surveyed spent extra time fixing AI-generated code, highlighting challenges around security and maintainability.
The Human-AI Equation
Experts warn that overreliance on AI could reduce developers’ ability to identify flaws, creating long-term vulnerabilities. MIT computer scientist Daniel Jackson cautioned in Wired that poorly monitored AI coding could produce “broken code full of security vulnerabilities” and erode programming skills.
Despite these challenges, Klarna’s CEO remains bullish. For Siemiatkowski, vibe coding represents a bridge between business creativity and technological execution. “I’ve been vibe coding my whole life,” he said. “The only difference is now I’m sitting with a computer and doing it with AI, producing prototypes in 20 minutes.”
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