# Paysend CEO limits AI access to top performers

Digest AI · Enterprise & Industry · published 2026-10-17T05:00:01Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/paysend-ceo-limits-ai-access-to-top-performers

## Summary

Ben Chisell, CEO of London-based payments firm Paysend, has adopted a restrictive approach to internal AI adoption, limiting access to high-performing employees rather than distributing tools company-wide. Chisell, who previously worked at Amazon and eBay, estimates that this targeted strategy allows Paysend to deliver around 25% more engineering work with the same team size. He argues that widespread access can amplify bad habits like poor judgment, and he prefers to resist the "fear of missing out" to focus on solving customer problems.

This stance contrasts with broader industry trends where companies are rapidly scaling AI deployment. Lloyds Banking Group has issued 40,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses, reporting that 97% of employees with access are actively using them. Similarly, Sage claims its AI coding tools have saved hundreds of thousands of work hours, and Grant Thornton UK is encouraging all staff to use Anthropic’s Claude as part of a £500 million ($660 million) AI investment.

However, Chisell notes that increased usage does not always equate to financial gain. U.K. government research published in January found that while three-quarters of businesses using AI reported improved workforce productivity, 77% stated that their revenue had not changed.

## Key points

- Paysend CEO Ben Chisell limits AI tools to top performers to avoid magnifying bad habits.
- Chisell estimates Paysend delivers 25% more engineering work with the same team size.
- Lloyds Banking Group rolled out 40,000 Copilot licenses with 97% active usage.

## Why it matters

Challenges the default assumption that universal AI access boosts productivity. Highlights that strategic, performance-based deployment may yield better engineering output than broad adoption, offering a counter-narrative to current industry hype.

## Sources

1. [Some companies give AI to everyone. This CEO is doing the opposite](https://cnbc.com/2026/10/17/ai-workplace-tokenmaxxing-paysend.html) (CNBC Technology, 2026-10-17)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Paysend CEO limits AI access to top performers", 17 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/paysend-ceo-limits-ai-access-to-top-performers

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