An internal memo from Tobi Lutke, CEO of Shopify, has leaked online, causing debate around how leading tech providers view the future of AI in the workplace.
Following the leak, Lutke posted the complete memo on X, explaining: "I heard this internal memo of mine is being leaked right now, so here it is."
There are some huge takeaways, including the subtle suggestion that Shopify's hiring team will recruit an AI before they hire a human.
As Lutke explained:
Before asking for more headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI.
He also advised his staff to picture: "What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team?"
From this, AI is seemingly now a baseline expectation at Shopify.
AI Agents as "Teammates", Not Tools
Lutke highlighted that many employees may already use AI as a "thought partner, deep researcher, critic, tutor, or pair programmer." He continued:
Frankly, I don't think it’s feasible to opt out of learning a new skill of applying AI in your craft; you are welcome to try, but I want to be honest. I cannot see this working out today, and definitely not tomorrow.
Here, the CEO also indicates that Shopify will likely favor AI-fluent candidates when it does spot the need to add new human employees in the future.
AI Usage Is Now a Key Measurable
While enterprises have spent considerable time ‘dabbling’ in AI and piloting it at scale, Shopify’s approach to AI becoming a key measure is particularly interesting.
Indeed, Shopify will now add AI usage questions to its performance and peer review questionnaire.
According to the memo, learning to prompt and load context will also become a key skill, and getting peers to provide feedback on how this is going will be valuable.
These moves demonstrate how Shopify clearly views AI as both a tool to empower and replace staff across the enterprise.
