A leaked internal memo from Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke just dropped, and it reads like a manifesto for the AI-powered future of work. It’s not just hype—it’s a call to rewire how companies think about talent, tools, and output.
My personal take is that the list is worth discussing . While some points like 2, 8, 9, 10 I support, other points seem to me as pre-mature, un-realistic, and in fact as even dangerous like 1, 3, 5, 7. But take a look at it yourself and make up your mind.
I consent with Andriy Burkov who commented: "An adequate CEO would say, You should use AI whenever you feel it makes you more productive and our company richer. Otherwise, use the most appropriate tool at your disposal."
Here are 10 quick takeaways that stood out:
“Hire an AI before you hire a human” – That one line reframes everything. AI isn’t just a tool; it’s now your first teammate.
AI fluency is the new baseline – Shopify (and likely others) will prioritize candidates who know how to work with AI.
AI agents = teammates – They’re no longer just assistants. They’re part of the team.
Prompting is a power skill – Want to outperform? Get great at prompting.
AI usage is tracked – Expect dashboards for AI output soon. Might even be a startup idea there.
AI-first prototyping – Moving fast isn’t optional anymore, even for $100B companies.
Bots in the org chart – Headcount now includes humans and machines.
AI literacy is the new coding – Understanding AI is becoming as essential as knowing how to code.
AI is part of the stack – Not a plugin. Not an experiment. It sits alongside backend, frontend, and design.
Impact per person is the goal – The whole memo screams: do more, with fewer people. This is coming to every major org in the next 12–24 months.
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