Its time to retire the statement - AI will not take your job

 Its time to retire the statement, "AI will not take your job, someone using AI will". 


It was timely, it woke up people, it is still true but we have moved beyond that simple line. Its time to define it. 


If you haven't read the recent internal memo's from the Shopify CEO and the Duolingo CEO, you should do it right away. 


I strongly recommend every professional to read those two memo's. Its a peek into the near future and ignoring it not a good idea. 


Here's the message distilled from the “AI-First” shift at Shopify and Duolingo


1. AI Is No Longer a Tool—It’s the Norm


Both, Shopify’s Tobi Lütke and Duolingo’s Luis von Ahn, have made it clear: AI is no longer an add-on or experiment. It is now the default mode of working across teams, tools, and decisions.


At Shopify, AI is being deeply embedded into the workflow of developers, product managers, and support teams. AI-driven features like Sidekick (Shopify’s AI assistant) are examples of this shift being productized.


At Duolingo, AI now plays a core role in shaping learner experiences, particularly through GPT-powered features that provide personalized feedback, conversation practice, and dynamic lesson adjustments.


2. Using AI Will Be Expected—Not Optional


Both CEOs emphasized that employees will be expected to adopt and experiment with AI tools as part of their daily responsibilities. The mindset is shifting from "you can use AI" to "you should be using AI."


AI proficiency is seen as a competitive advantage not just for the company, but for individuals. 


Teams are encouraged to automate, enhance, or rethink work with AI in mind.


In hiring and internal evaluations, familiarity with AI tools may soon be a differentiator.


3. AI as a Strategic Lever, Not a Trend


Both companies have made strategic organizational changes that reflect this shift:


Shopify has restructured teams to align around product, speed, and automation—eliminating roles that don’t scale well in an AI-first environment.


Duolingo has doubled down on AI as their future differentiator in edtech, emphasizing that their AI investments will allow them to teach more effectively than humans in some domains.


4. Cultural Implication: Be Curious, Not Resistant


A subtle but important tone in both memos: resistance to AI is not seen as skepticism—it’s seen as stagnation. Employees are encouraged to play, test, build, and explore, even in areas they don't fully understand yet.

 

For me, the 4th point is the most important. While Leaders focus on strategic and tech changes, it is the cultural and behavioral change that will ultimately drive AI assimilation into daily conversations and make it a way fo working. 

 

As a Leader, what's your position on AI at work and what are you 'actually' doing about it? 


#CoachHemant #AIatWork #FutureOfWork 

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