If You Run a Team, Take a Page From This CEO's Playbook on AI
If you lead a team, this is worth paying attention to.
Tobi Lütke, the CEO of Shopify, recently shared an internal memo that caught my attention. It wasn’t filled with hype or buzzwords, it was clear, intentional, and deeply relevant for anyone thinking about the future of work.
In it, he made something explicit that many of us are still just circling around: AI is no longer optional. At Shopify, using AI is now a baseline expectation. Not a future plan. Not an experiment. A core part of how they work today.
And while some of his language is strong, the truth is, this isn’t far off from where all of us are headed. Fast.
One metaphor he used really stood out: the idea of the Red Queen’s race from Alice in Wonderland, where you have to run just to stay in place. That’s what it’s like leading in today’s environment. The only way to move forward is to adapt faster—and smarter.
AI isn’t just about getting more done. It’s about freeing up the space to do better work. The kind that only humans can do. That’s where I think the real opportunity lies.
Here are a few key ideas from his memo:
AI Fluency is the New Baseline- Everyone at Shopify is expected to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or others in their daily workflow—whether they’re writing, coding, or strategizing.
Learning AI Means Using It Often- Using AI well takes practice. Tobi shared that many people give up after one bad prompt. But the real magic comes from trying, adjusting, and learning—just like any skill worth mastering.
Performance Reviews Now Include AI- Shopify is adding AI usage into performance and peer reviews. It’s becoming part of the culture, not just a tool on the side.
Headcount Requests Must Justify Why AI Can’t Do the Job- Before asking for more people, teams have to explain why AI can’t help solve the problem first. That’s a shift in mindset—not just about cost, but about resourcefulness.
It’s clear: this is no longer about experimenting with AI. It’s about integrating it into the way we lead, build, and serve.