AI First, Humans Second
The leaked memo titled "AI usage is now a baseline expectation" makes clear: you cannot request additional resources without demonstrating you've maximized AI use.
"Stagnation almost certainly leads to failure. Stagnation is just slow failure. If you're not going up, you're sliding down."
From Recommendation to Requirement
AI tools (Copilot, Claude, Cursor, chat.shopify.io) are provided to all employees. Lutke describes AI as a "multiplier" — turning 10x teams into 100x teams. AI proficiency is now a performance review criterion, and prompt-writing skill is a competitive advantage.
10 Key Points from the Memo
- "Don't hire humans before hiring AI."
- AI proficiency is a baseline qualification.
- AI agents are treated as team members.
- Prompt-writing is a core skill.
- AI usage is tracked.
- Prototyping starts with AI.
- Org charts now include AI bots.
- AI proficiency is the new coding literacy.
- AI is core infrastructure, not a feature.
- Shopify uses AI to maximize per-person productivity.
Everyone Must Participate
Lutke shared how he used AI agents to prepare his Shopify Summit presentation. This applies to all employees, including leadership. He compared the imperative to a "Red Queen race" — you must keep running just to stay in place.
"Our mission is to define what entrepreneurship looks like in a world where AI is universally used."