Robo Resources
Markets aren’t the only area experiencing some big swings. The way companies go about employment and hiring is also set for a shakeup. E-commerce software giant Shopify (SHOP) is out with a new memo stating that it will not bring aboard any new workers unless managers can prove artificial intelligence isn’t able to do the same job.
Quote: “Before asking for more Headcount and resources, teams must demonstrate why they cannot get what they want done using AI,” Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke wrote on X. “What would this area look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team? Frankly, I don’t think it’s feasible to opt out of learning the 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.”
Many companies are experimenting with AI, and how it can assist with productivity, but the new announcement shows just how far things can be taken in terms of replacing human workers. “Reflexive AI usage is now a baseline expectation at Shopify,” Lütke added, saying it applied to everyone at the company, including himself and other top brass. Shopify will also start to include AI usage in employee performance and peer reviews, with the technology set to “totally change Shopify, our work, and the rest of our lives.”
Outlook: While there are some questions about guardrails, it might just be the latest iteration of “move fast and break things” for the tech world. To help employees adapt to the new culture, Shopify is offering as many cutting-edge AI tools as possible, like Copilot, Cursor, and Claude code, as well as AI-powered chat platform chat.shopify.io. The company has also been active on the M&A front to boost productivity and its offerings, scooping up seven AI-focused startups over the past year, including the latest one – Vantage Discovery – which builds AI-powered search functions for retailers.
