Tobi Lütke

In an April 2025 memo posted publicly to X, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke told employees that using AI is now a 'fundamental expectation' at the company, and that teams must demonstrate they 'cannot get what they want done using AI' before requesting additional headcount. He stated AI usage would be factored into performance reviews. Shopify's CFO indicated the company intends to keep headcount 'relatively flat' despite growth, using AI to substitute for hiring. The memo did not describe retraining programs or transition support for employees whose roles are affected by the AI mandate.

In early February 2025, after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke posted publicly that 'Trump believes that Canada has not held its side of the bargain, and he set terms to prove that we still work together: get the borders under control and crack down on fentanyl dens,' framing Trump's demands as reasonable. He criticized Canada's retaliatory tariffs, saying 'hitting back will not lead to anything good... Canada will decline' and 'starting a trade and tariff war... just doesn't make any sense for anyone.' The comments drew significant attention as a prominent Canadian CEO siding with the US administration's position against his own government.

Lütke and his wife Fiona McKean established the Thistledown Foundation in 2019 with a $150 million endowment to fund 'novel approaches to decarbonization.' In April 2020, the foundation pivoted to COVID-19 response, donating $5 million to Fast Grants for coronavirus research and $1 million to Conquer COVID-19 for PPE sourcing, plus funding N95 decontamination and 3D-printed face shield projects at Ottawa hospitals. In November 2021, the foundation granted a further $26 million ($2 million each) to all 13 of Canada's acute-care children's hospitals, timed to coincide with National Child Day and cited as a response to pandemic strain on child healthcare. The couple stated they initially preferred anonymous giving but became public donors to enable faster, high-impact action during the pandemic.