Shopify CEO makes AI proficiency a mandatory skill for all employees | CliqExplainer

In a bold shift that reflects the changing dynamics of modern work, Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke has declared that artificial intelligence (AI) will now be a fundamental part of the company’s operations. He informed employees through an internal memo that AI usage will no longer be optional. Instead, every team must now justify why a task cannot be done by AI before requesting more people or resources. This move marks a significant transformation in how the Canadian e-commerce giant plans to operate going forward.

AI is the new normal at Shopify
According to Tobias Lütke, AI isn’t just a productivity tool — it’s a baseline expectation. “Reflexive AI usage is now a baseline expectation at Shopify,” he stated, noting that the rule applies across the board, from junior staff to top executives. Employees will now be required to use AI as a partner in daily tasks, whether that involves writing code, conducting research, or streamlining processes. Performance evaluations and peer reviews will also begin including AI proficiency as a metric.

The CEO emphasized that AI is changing how work is done faster than any shift he has seen in his career. He encouraged employees to embrace AI by learning to prompt effectively and integrating tools like Copilot, Claude, Cursor, and internal platforms such as chat.shopify.io into their workflows. Tobias Lütke himself admitted that even though he uses AI daily, he feels he’s only begun to scratch the surface of its potential.

Proving AI can’t do the job is now a requirement
The central message of Tobias Lütke’s memo was clear: before asking for new hires or additional funding, teams must demonstrate why AI can’t accomplish the task. He pushed staff to envision their roles with autonomous AI agents as part of the team. This reflects Shopify’s broader company culture of rapid adaptation and constant learning. As part of this transformation, Shopify has already launched AI-powered tools like Sidekick for merchants and a suite of automation solutions under the name “Shopify Magic.”

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