Shopify CEO: Prove AI can’t do it before hiring

Shopify’s CEO mandates proof of AI inefficiency for resource requests while aiming to maintain headcount and invest in top AI talent amid tech job cuts.

Shopify’s CEO Tobi Lutke is drawing a hard line on hiring—telling staff they must prove their job can’t be done by AI before asking for more resources. The company is integrating AI usage into performance reviews, positioning it as a productivity multiplier.

Despite job cuts across tech, Shopify aims to keep headcount flat while funnelling more funds into top AI talent. What does this mean for hiring in the age of AI?