In a recent discussion surrounding the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, OKX founder and CEO Star Xu emphasized the transformative power of AI in the workplace. Xu articulated that the rise of AI technology will not only highlight top performers but also unveil those employees who prioritize internal politics, presentation, and bureaucratic processes over tangible execution.
Xu’s remarks came in response to a Bloomberg report detailing OKX’s initiative to incorporate AI usage into employee performance reviews. He criticized a prevailing simplification of the relationship between AI and workforce reductions, affirming that the technology should not be perceived merely as a tool for layoffs.
He pointed out that successful businesses have historically thrived on a select group of high-performing operators who possess a profound understanding of their organizational systems and are relentless in pursuing outcomes. According to Xu, AI heightens the value of these individuals by enabling them to structure workflows and operational frameworks around AI systems, thus making their contributions critical.
Moreover, Xu asserted that AI will expose what he referred to as “bullshitters” within organizations—employees who prioritize impression management over genuine output. Drawing on ideas from philosopher Harry Frankfurt’s book “On Bullshit,” he noted that AI’s capacity to accelerate operational tasks will render low-value bureaucracy more identifiable, thereby benefiting companies that prioritize productivity.
Xu also acknowledged that AI agents have reached a level of intelligence comparable to that of top university graduates in various general tasks. However, he emphasized that these AI systems still lack the nuanced judgment and contextual understanding required in specific corporate environments, reinforcing the notion that AI alters talent requisites rather than simply displacing workers.
In alignment with this vision, OKX is reportedly set to implement formal metrics that gauge employee proficiency with AI tools during their performance assessments. Having encouraged staff to adopt AI in their daily operations since earlier this year, the company plans to incorporate metrics related to token usage, workflow efficiency, and time savings in mid-year reviews scheduled for September.
This strategic shift follows a substantial reduction in OKX’s workforce, with hundreds of positions eliminated over the past year, leaving approximately 5,000 employees worldwide. Notably, in April, AI was cited as the primary factor behind 26% of all corporate layoffs announced.
Internally, OKX employees currently have access to enterprise versions of AI tools such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. Management has been directed to promote AI usage across various departments, including engineering, customer service, product development, training, and quality assurance.
A significant development includes the rollout of an AI-powered customer service knowledge base, in which automated systems can retrieve information and respond to customer inquiries independently. This innovative application underscores OKX’s commitment to leveraging AI to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
