3 AI execs on why tiny teams work, and where they could fall apart Building with a smaller team has its benefits and challenges. skynesher/Getty Images Coinbase plans to lay off 14% of staff , shifting focus to AI efficiency and smaller teams. Three leaders running AI-driven teams of fewer than 10 people share key lessons from operating lean. They say speed is the biggest advantage of AI, but it can also create new challenges. More and more companies are reducing their staff and leaning into AI. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is the latest tech exec to head in that direction. Armstrong said the fintech company plans to lay off around 14% of its workforce. He shared his message publicly on X on Tuesday morning, saying, "The pace of what's possible with a small, focused team has changed dramatically, and it's accelerating every day." The appeal is simple: smaller teams mean faster decisions, lower costs, and more control.…