From Hierarchy to Intelligence

Sequoia · 3 months ago

Block is redesigning its organization around AI-powered coordination instead of traditional hierarchy, replacing the information-routing function that managers have provided for 2,000 years by building company and customer world models from transaction data and machine-readable work artifacts. The system composes financial capabilities (payments, lending, card issuance) into personalized solutions for customers at specific moments, such as offering short-term loans to merchants before cash flow problems occur. This shift moves the organization from predetermined product roadmaps managed by humans to AI-driven proactive delivery of capabilities, fundamentally changing how large organizations coordinate work.