AI Unleashed: Shopify’s Mandate Meets Google’s Agent Alliance

Welcome back, Cubs 🐻 

The AI revolution rolls on with new models like Llama 4 making waves just days ago, but this issue spotlights my two favorite updates: Shopify’s bold AI memo and Google’s Agent2Agent reveal. 👇

AI AGENTS
AI That Talks To AI

​Google announced its Agent2Agent (A2A) protocol yesterday at the Cloud Next '25 conference. It’s a new system that lets AI agents—think virtual assistants or task-specific bots—communicate and collaborate, even if they’re built by different companies. Over 50 partners, including Salesforce and SAP, are on board, and it’s open-source, so developers can jump in.

For now, it’s aimed at businesses, connecting things like customer service and inventory management. But it could eventually hit consumer tech, potentially making life easier by linking tools for scheduling, shopping, or planning—all in one seamless flow. Who knows, maybe dating apps will get in on it—your AI wingman could chat up another AI wingman, and they’d swipe right for you before you even finish your coffee. It’s early days, but this could be a big step for AI integration.

AI REVOLUTION
Shopify: A Game-Changing Memo from the Top

You’ve probably heard about the Shopify CEO memo that everyone’s talking about—but if you didn’t, here’s the scoop. Tobi Lütke, Shopify’s CEO, recently dropped an internal memo that’s since gone public, sparking a firestorm of discussion. It’s not just a casual update—it’s a bold declaration that AI isn’t just a tool at Shopify anymore; it’s now a fundamental expectation for every employee, from junior staff to the C-suite. This isn’t a suggestion or a trendy experiment; it’s a mandate that could redefine how businesses operate in the AI age. Here’s what you need to know about this pivotal moment and what it means for Shopify, its employees, and the broader business landscape.

The Memo: AI as the New Normal

Lütke’s memo, clocking in at over 1,100 words, is a clarion call for Shopify to fully embrace AI across all levels of the company. Dated late March 2025 and shared publicly on April 7, it lays out six key directives that signal a seismic shift:

1. AI is Mandatory: “Reflexive AI usage is now a baseline expectation at Shopify,” Lütke wrote. Translation? If you’re not using AI in your daily work, you’re falling behind—and possibly out of step with the company’s future.

2. Prototyping with AI: Every project’s initial phase—Shopify’s “Get Sh*t Done” (GSD) prototyping—must leverage AI to accelerate innovation and problem-solving.

3. Performance Tied to AI: AI fluency isn’t optional—it’s part of performance and peer reviews now. How well you wield AI tools could determine your standing at Shopify.

4. Share the Knowledge: Employees are expected to exchange insights on how they’re using AI, fostering a culture of collective learning.

5. AI Before Headcount: Before requesting new hires or resources, teams must prove why AI can’t handle the task. This flips traditional hiring logic on its head.

6. No Exceptions: This applies to everyone—including Lütke himself and the executive team. No one gets a pass.

Lütke’s reasoning is rooted in Shopify’s explosive growth—20% to 40% annually—and the belief that AI is the key to keeping pace. “In a company growing this fast, you must improve by at least that every year just to re-qualify,” he wrote. For him, AI isn’t just a productivity booster; it’s a multiplier that could push top performers to deliver “10x—or even 100x—what was previously thought possible.”

Why Now?

Shopify’s been flirting with AI for years, rolling out tools like Shopify Magic (for product descriptions and marketing) and Sidekick (a merchant chatbot) to its platform. But this memo marks a turning point. It’s not about dabbling anymore—it’s about embedding AI into the company’s DNA. The timing aligns with broader industry trends: tech giants are pouring billions into AI, and companies like Shopify, which powers millions of online stores, can’t afford to lag behind. Lütke sees AI as a survival tool in a “fast-evolving digital economy,” warning that “stagnation is slow-motion failure.”

This push also comes after significant workforce adjustments. Shopify slashed 14% of its staff in 2022 and 20% in 2023, dropping from 11,600 employees to 8,100 by the end of 2024. With headcount flat despite growth, Lütke’s betting on AI to do more with less—a strategy that’s raising eyebrows and sparking debate.

What It Means for Shopify

For employees, this is a wake-up call. AI fluency is now a job requirement, and those who don’t adapt risk sliding into irrelevance. The memo’s tone is blunt: “I don’t think it’s feasible to opt out of learning the skill of applying AI in your craft,” Lütke wrote. “You are welcome to try, but I cannot see this working out today, and definitely not tomorrow.” It’s a high-stakes challenge—master AI or get left behind.

For merchants, Shopify’s 4.8 million stores could see a wave of AI-driven enhancements. Imagine faster prototyping for new features, smarter analytics, or even AI agents managing entire workflows. Lütke’s vision hints at an “AI-native” future where entrepreneurship on Shopify is supercharged by intelligent systems.

The Bigger Picture

Shopify’s move isn’t happening in a vacuum. Tech companies worldwide are racing to harness AI, balancing massive investments with cost-cutting elsewhere. But Lütke’s directive stands out for its clarity and urgency. Requiring teams to justify human hires over AI is a radical rethink of workforce planning—one that could inspire (or pressure) other firms to follow suit.

Critics, though, see risks. Forcing AI into every corner of the business could strain employees, especially if they’re not ready for the learning curve. There’s also the “black box” problem: if AI’s inner workings remain opaque, merchants and customers might not trust the results. And what about morale? Telling staff to prove AI can’t do their job before hiring help might feel dehumanizing to some.

My Take

Lütke’s memo is a bold bet on AI’s transformative power, and it’s hard not to admire the ambition. Shopify’s already a leader in e-commerce—26% of online stores run on its platform—and this could cement its edge. But execution will be everything. If Shopify nails this, it could set a new standard for how companies integrate AI into their culture. If it stumbles—say, by alienating talent or rushing untested tools—it risks proving the skeptics right.

One thing’s clear: this isn’t just about Shopify. It’s a signal to every business, big or small, that AI isn’t a sidekick anymore—it’s the main event. As Lütke put it, “AI will totally change Shopify, our work, and the rest of our lives.” Whether that’s a promise or a warning depends on how this plays out.

PROMPT OF THE WEEK
Interviewer Conversation with ChatGPT

I want you to act as an interviewer. I will be the candidate and you will ask me the interview questions for the [position] position. I want you to only reply as the interviewer. Do not write all the conservation at once. I want you to only do the interview with me. Ask me the questions and wait for my answers. Do not write explanations. Ask me the questions one by one like an interviewer does and wait for my answers. My first sentence is "Hi"

Love,
Mama Bear 🐾

Stay tuned for next week’s updates, and remember – innovation in AI is happening fast, and we’re all a part of it.

Keep Mama Bear going! Buy her Honey!🍯