What Happens in Silicon Valley Doesn’t Stay There

Tech-sector human resources policies tend to follow a familiar path: dismissal, ridicule, resistance, and eventual acceptance, often summarized as “first they dismiss you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” When Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke announced a radical restructuring of hiring and performance management last April, much of Silicon Valley moved briskly through those stages. And, as Nate Jones documented on AI News & Strategy Daily , many who initially dismissed Lütke’s views are now quietly getting on board. In April 2025, Lütke directed Shopify employees to treat AI use as a baseline expectation rather than a discretionary aid, integrating AI fluency directly into everyday workflows and performance reviews.

He also banned hiring new staff until managers demons