Business Tech News: Shopify CEO Says AI First Before Employees
Toronto , Canada - 22 May 2019; Tobias Lütke, CEO, Shopify, (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile ... More via Getty Images)
Here are five things in business tech news that happened this week and how they affect your business. Did you miss them?
Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has implemented a new hiring policy that prioritizes artificial intelligence (AI) over human hires. In a memo to employees, Lütke stated that teams must demonstrate why their needs cannot be fulfilled using AI before requesting additional resources. This approach reflects Shopify's commitment to integrating AI into its operations, including employee performance reviews. The company has already embraced generative AI tools – such as Shopify Magic and Sidekick – to enhance productivity. However, this shift has also led to significant layoffs in recent years. (Source: The Verge)
Why this is important for your business:
This strategy seems a little extreme. And it's curious to me that it became public. Is this more of a PR stunt than an actual strategy to impress shareholders and show the world how ahead of the game Shopify is? Making an announcement like this also isn't exactly the best way to attract and retain talent to an organization. As I've written repeatedly, AI will be replacing employees. Big companies are doing this. Other organizations will soon be joining in as the technology becomes more affordable and accurate. But announcing that you're effectively doing this is not only a little premature but also isn't a good look.
Lance Whitney of ZDNet wrote about the 'variety of compelling advantages' ChatGPT has to offer. He lists five reasons for why he uses it daily despite the available alternatives. Web Searching: ChatGPT's AI-powered search provides direct answers without distractions. Deep Research: With a paid subscription, ChatGPT can conduct detailed research, saving time by compiling comprehensive reports from online sources. Personalized Chats: The chatbot tailors interactions based on user preferences, enhancing the conversational experience. Prompt Writing Assistance: ChatGPT helps users craft effective prompts for various tasks. Replacing Siri: The AI platform's versatility and capabilities make it a strong contender for replacing traditional virtual assistants like Siri. (Source: ZDNet)
Why this is important for your business:
He loves ChatGPT and so do I. But I also use other AI platforms – Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot and Perplexity - for certain tasks. Every business person should have a subscription to at least one. They're like having an expert assistant at your disposal to help advise and perform certain tasks for you. ChatGPT and its counterparts will soon be as critical a mobile app as your email, text and phone apps.
Management software platform Procore has published its "Future State of Construction" report – highlighting how AI, automation, and workforce changes are transforming the construction industry. Key findings touch on AI automation, workforce shifts, mental health, data utilization and emerging activities. (Source: Stock Titan)
Why this is important for your business:
The report has extremely valuable insights for companies in the construction field. For example, AI and automation technologies are reducing inefficiencies, with 55 percent of leaders expecting automation to disrupt the industry within five years, and that, with 53 percent of workers retiring by 2036, companies are focusing on upskilling programs to attract and retain talent. My best clients are always looking at information available now and using that to drive their future growth. There's plenty of data here that will help owners and managers of construction firms make decisions this year that will impact their companies in the years to come.
Bank of America says it has integrated AI across its operations, with over 90 percent of its 213,000 employees using AI tools to enhance productivity and client service. (Source: Bank Automation News)
Why this is important for your business:
Like many big financial services firms, the bank has leaned into generative AI tools to assist employees, and make its call center more efficient. The bank is also using AI to power over one million interactive simulations annually, aiding employees in client interactions. I recently wrote about how JP Morgan is implementing AI tools across their organization to accomplish many of the same goals.
At Shoptalk's Spring 2025 conference in Las Vegas, retail leaders discussed the transformative role of AI in the industry. Highlights include Customer Experience: AI is enhancing customer service and loss prevention, while shoppers are using AI to assist with purchases. Creative Tools: Meta showcased generative AI tools for ad creation, emphasizing the shift from automation to creative AI. Storytelling: Toys R Us used OpenAI's Sora platform to create a branded video, demonstrating how AI can innovate storytelling methods. Human-AI Collaboration: A recurring theme was that humans with AI will outperform those without it, highlighting the importance of integrating AI into workflows. (Source: Retail Dive)
Why this is important for your business:
More AI use cases, this time in the retail industry.
The above business tech news items all have one thing in common this week: they're showing how AI is being used in different industries, from construction and finance to retail and general every day assistance. In 2025 AI is clearly beginning to mature and larger companies that have invested tens of millions of dollars are starting to receive that return on investment. What's important is that many of these technologies – as they're being teste and rolled out by big corporations – will ultimately trickle down to small and mid sized businesses.
Each week I round up the five business tech news stories that impact my company and my clients the most and then provide a little insight.
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