CEO Tobi Lutkereportedly said that new hires will only be made when a task cannot be done with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).
According to a message from the CEO to employees, workers should demonstrate why they “can’t do what they want using AI” before asking for more employees and resources. According to Lutke, employees should first ask themselves: “What would this look like if autonomous AI agents were already part of the team?” “That question can lead to really fun conversations and projects,” he added in the message, which has now been shared on X.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing the way businesses operate. The requirement to prove that a job cannot be done by AI, before hiring people, is a strategy to: reduce costs (less staff), increase efficiency (if AI does it faster, why not prefer it?), create leaner organizations, i.e. without unnecessary costs or roles.
Overall, the CEO said there is now a “fundamental expectation” at Shopify that employees will use AI in their daily work. He says that in his experience and what he has observed in others, AI can significantly boost productivity.
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Furthermore, as part of this new Shopify strategy, which shows a complete shift towards artificial intelligence, performance reviews will also leverage AI.
In recent months, more and more tech companies have been investing in the development of artificial intelligence. Shopify itself has released AI tools for its merchants, including a chatbot called Sidekick and a suite of automation tools called “Shopify Magic.”
However, to offset investments in AI, tech companies are trying to cut costs in other areas, either by cutting projects, laying off staff, or reducing new hires (as at Shopify).
However, while it makes business sense for companies to turn to AI, there is also the human/social aspect of the issue. This situation causes anxiety for many employees. Having to prove that your job cannot be automated adds psychological pressure and anxiety about the future.
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We will certainly see similar practices spread. But the challenge is not to lose the human dimension of work — the creativity, the empathy, the judgment — things that AI still cannot reach.
Source: www.cnbc.com
