In his internal memo, Tobi Lutke describes a landscape where AI has quickly become a “baseline expectation” rather than a shiny, futuristic add-on. He highlights that we’re witnessing the most rapid shift in workplace methodology he’s ever seen, and that those who embrace AI as a collaborator: whether as a thought partner, researcher, or pair programmer - are achieving results once considered impossible. Shopify, as he puts it, is a company where you have to keep running just to stay still implying that continuous learning isn’t simply a nice-to-have, it’s the only way to remain relevant.

Ultimately, the memo feels like a rallying cry for continual growth. AI tools are moving so rapidly that holding back out of caution or skepticism may result in being left behind.

By recognizing AI as an ally: one that can enhance our judgment, shape bold ideas, and open up fresh possibilities: teams can transform the way they work, learn, and create new value. Everyone must climb. If we don’t, we slide, and in a fast-paced environment, sliding means losing out on the future of entrepreneurship that’s already knocking at our door.

So What? Why This Matters for the Global South

For the Global South, the stakes are even higher. AI isn't just a tool for efficiency—it’s a lever for leapfrogging. In regions where traditional infrastructure and legacy systems may be limited, embracing AI as a collaborator can unlock new models of education, entrepreneurship, and economic growth.

This isn’t a race to catch up; it’s an opportunity to define a new trajectory. By embedding AI into how we build, learn, and solve, the Global South can bypass incremental development and lead with fresh solutions shaped by its own realities. But only if we climb. Waiting means watching the gap widen. Adopting, experimenting, and scaling AI now is the only way forward.