In a leaked internal memo, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke made something crystal clear: using AI at Shopify is no longer optional. Shopify told employees to use AI or explain themselves—a bold move that signals just how central AI is becoming to the company’s culture and operations.
Now, it’d be easy to brush this off as a corporate tech moment. But if you’re an online seller? You might want to pay attention—because this memo isn’t just about how Shopify runs its meetings. It’s about how your store might operate next.
AI Is the New Normal
What makes this memo interesting isn’t that Shopify is using AI. Most platforms are. It’s that they’re mandating it. Not encouraging, not suggesting—requiring.
Why? Because they believe AI makes work better: faster, more creative, more scalable. And if that’s how Shopify thinks internally, you can bet those same principles are going to shape the tools you use on the outside.
So yeah, that product description generator? That sales forecast? That smart inventory suggestion? They’re not just features. They’re Shopify baking its new AI-first mindset into your everyday seller experience.
Here’s the Part Most Sellers Haven’t Thought About
This memo isn’t really about AI—it’s about mindset.
When a platform as big as Shopify says this is the way forward, it nudges the whole industry. And that means sellers who start playing with these tools now? They’ll be the ones ready when AI shifts from “cool extra” to “core feature.”
Think about it:
- Writing product descriptions 5x faster
- Automating promo planning based on behavior
- Letting support bots handle FAQs so you can actually eat lunch
You don’t need to be an AI expert. You just need to stop ignoring it.
Why This Matters Right Now
When Shopify makes AI mandatory for its team, it’s pushing a culture, not just tech. A culture of working smarter, experimenting more, and moving faster. And if your platform is going all-in on that, maybe your store should too.
So no, you don’t have to turn your business into a sci-fi startup overnight. But if AI can help you sell smarter, ship faster, or free up time to think bigger.
And when you’re ready to pair smart tools with smart fulfillment? Well… you know who to call.