Affirm’s AI-native transformation & how it’s driving operational excellence w/ Geddes Munson #259

Operational and engineering excellence at Affirm hinges on aligning technical initiatives with the company’s mission to provide transparent financial products. A significant turning point occurred following a major Black Friday outage, which forced a cultural shift from prioritizing pure speed to balancing rapid delivery with system reliability and safety. This evolution was further accelerated by an AI-native transformation, where the adoption of agentic programming allowed engineers to automate complex tasks and increase velocity. By designating "AI Retooling Week"—a period where meetings were canceled and deadlines shifted—the organization successfully mitigated individual risk, enabling teams to integrate agentic loops into the core codebase. Today, the focus has expanded toward "agentic commerce," leveraging AI to create personalized, consumer-friendly financial experiences that simplify complex transactions and improve user outcomes.