Sebastian Siemiatkowski isn’t just dabbling in artificial intelligence—he’s going all in. The Klarna CEO recently handed over the spotlight to his AI clone, who delivered the company’s latest earnings update in a YouTube video. The virtual avatar, dressed in a familiar brown blazer, walked viewers through Klarna’s quarterly highlights with surprising poise. While there were a few giveaways—slightly off lip-sync, fewer blinks, and a different shirt—it was clear that Klarna wanted to send a message: this is no longer just a fintech company. It’s an AI-powered platform, now pushing toward an IPO.
The deeper signal behind the gimmick? Klarna is crediting artificial intelligence for much of its recent growth. The company hit 100 million users and just marked its fourth profitable quarter in a row. AI, they claim, played a big role in that success. According to Klarna’s blog, the firm cut its workforce by roughly 40%, shrinking from 5,000 to around 3,000 employees, while boosting revenue per employee to nearly $1 million. For Klarna, AI isn’t just about chatbots or automation—it’s a core strategy.
Could AI Really Replace Startup CEOs?
Siemiatkowski isn’t the only founder leaning into the idea of AI leadership. Artisan, the startup behind a cheeky “stop hiring humans” campaign, even created a spoof video for April Fool’s Day. In it, their CEO is fired and replaced by an AI executive—complete with its own personality and agenda.
But what if this scenario wasn’t just satire? The core job of a CEO is to set direction, make decisions, and take ownership of the results. Increasingly, researchers and startup operators are wondering: could an AI CEO do that better?
There’s already some early evidence suggesting it might. A study published in Harvard Business Review last year modeled how a GPT-4o-powered AI CEO would perform. The AI was found to outperform its human counterparts in many core areas—especially in data-driven decision-making and strategy formulation. Its ability to absorb massive datasets, analyze past business successes, and apply reasoning models gave it an edge.
Where AI CEOs Still Fall Short—for Now
Despite the promising signs, the study ended with a twist. The AI CEO didn’t last long. It was fired by the virtual board due to one major blind spot: black swan events. When unpredictable shocks—like the COVID-19 pandemic—hit the simulated market, the AI struggled to adapt with the flexibility and human intuition needed in moments of chaos.
Still, AI advocates argue this is just the beginning. As models continue to evolve, the gap between data-driven decision-making and real-world leadership could shrink. And if Klarna’s AI-powered earnings call is any indication, the age of the AI CEO might not be as far off as it seems.
