6 days ago
Opinion: Canada needs to start building out the leisure industry as AI takes hold
Article content
Tobi Lütke, the founder of Ottawa-based Shopify Inc., has a new mantra for his workforce: 'AI first.'
Article content
In a recent memo, the CEO urged staff to seek artificial intelligence solutions before requesting additional resources or new hires, a directive that's rippling through Canada's tech sector. Lütke has emphasized that AI is not about cutting jobs, but about reimagining work.
Article content
Article content
Article content
For many, the message is clear: AI is reshaping the workplace, and for the worse. The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, released in January, paints a stark picture. By 2030, AI and automation are expected to displace 92 million jobs globally, from coders to customer service reps.
Article content
In Canada, where tech and manufacturing employ more than 1.5 million people, the impact could be profound. Micha Kaufman, chief executive of freelancing platform Fiverr International Ltd., didn't mince words in a recent e-mail to his employees that he shared on X: 'AI is coming for your jobs. Heck, it's coming for my job too.'
Article content
But in this upheaval lies an unexpected opportunity, one that's already transforming industries and redefining how we live.
Article content
Article content
The fear of an AI-driven dystopia — mass layoffs, strained social safety nets — dominates headlines. Yet history suggests economies adapt to technological shocks.
Article content
Article content
For example, the Industrial Revolution displaced weavers, but birthed factory jobs. The internet killed travel agencies, but spawned digital marketing. E-commerce displaced a million retail jobs between 2000 and 2020, only to replace them with distribution centre and parcel delivery jobs.
Article content
As AI automates routine tasks, it's not just threatening jobs; it's unlocking a leisure revolution. From pickleball courts to brand-new sports leagues reimagining the audience experience, the global leisure sector is poised for a boom, and Canadian businesses must capitalize on it.
