Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said on Aug. 20 that the company is aggressively adopting artificial intelligence as an enabler of growth, rather than as a justification for layoffs. Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, he said Ripple employs about 1,500 people globally, plans continued hiring and expects annual revenue to more than double in 2026. Garlinghouse cited 150 open positions, while Ripple's public careers portal listed 94 roles when reviewed. He rejected the argument that AI is necessarily responsible for large corporate layoffs, noting that businesses have attributed workforce reductions to several factors, including automation, restructuring, operating costs and changes in customer demand. The company has expanded beyond cross-border payments into institutional services, including Ripple Prime, which it says clears more than $3 trillion annually for over 300 institutional customers. Ripple also provides custody, stablecoin and treasury services, and has linked its AI strategy to automation and greater output in financial infrastructure. The company is privately held, so its revenue target is guidance rather than independently audited public-company reporting, and commercial growth at Ripple does not automatically create demand for XRP.