Shopify Employee Breaks NDA To Reveal Firm Quietly Replacing Laid Off Workers With AI
In a Twitter thread, a Shopify (TSX: SHOP) employee has broken their non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to shed light on the company’s controversial actions and strategic direction. The thread exposed a series of events starting from the first quarter of 2022 when Shopify promised job security to its staff, only to carry out massive layoffs in July of the same year.
These job cuts, according to the employee, were driven not merely by a CEO’s misguided “bet,” but rather a shift towards replacing full-time employees with cheaper contract labor and an increased reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) support.
Last week, Shopify announced its upcoming launch of an artificial intelligence assistant called “Sidekick” for merchants using its platform, joining the ranks of other tech companies introducing similar features. In a video shared on Twitter, Lutke demonstrated how the “Sidekick” assistant, accessible through a button on Shopify, will be capable of responding to merchant inquiries, providing information on sales trends, and more.
The tweet series further detailed how Shopify has been aggressively embracing AI technology, using it for various purposes, from generating product descriptions to creating virtual sidekicks and developing a new help center AI agent still in beta testing. CEO Tobi Lutke’s public statements on Twitter illustrated his belief that companies can achieve higher revenues with fewer employees, signaling a desire to cut costs and please shareholders.
However, the consequences of this cost-cutting strategy have negatively impacted customer satisfaction. The reduction in staff and the rise of outsourced, cheap contract labor have led to significant delays in customer support, leaving frustrated merchants waiting for hours or even struggling to receive clear answers. Additionally, teams responsible for monitoring fraudulent stores have been overwhelmed, leading to a potential increase in the number of scam businesses on the platform.
The employee’s Twitter thread also raised concerns about the well-being of Shopify’s workforce. Since the layoffs, remaining staff members have reportedly faced increased workloads without proportional compensation or benefits, leading to burnout, anxiety, and stress leave. Despite these issues being brought to leadership’s attention, they were dismissed as “system” problems, and the company’s focus on AI-based solutions appeared to supersede the value once placed on human-driven customer service.
Furthermore, the thread highlighted Shopify’s apparent shift in target market focus. Previously known for supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs, Shopify now seems to prioritize larger players, as its revenue model relies heavily on payment transactions rather than subscription software.
The drastic changes in Shopify’s approach have led both employees and customers to question the company’s integrity and commitment to its original mission of empowering small businesses. Many see the company as straying from its roots, becoming more akin to the corporate giants it once aimed to oppose.
Shopify’s leadership, including President Harley Finkelstein, has assured employees there will be no further layoffs. However, the company’s actions and secretive handling of layoffs under the veil of NDAs have caused employees to doubt these promises.
Despite multiple rounds of layoffs over the last year, management compensation at Shopify appears to have been largely unaffected.
In a regulatory filing made in May, Shopify revealed that Lutke collected just over $20.0 million in total compensation in 2022, on par with the $20.0 million he collected in 2021, and an increase over the $15.1 million he made in 2020.
With public scrutiny growing and concerns over its corporate values and business model mounting, Shopify faces a significant challenge in restoring trust and addressing the impact of its decisions on both employees and customers.
Shopify last traded at $89.91 on the TSX.
Information for this briefing was found via Twitter and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
How has Shopify’s leadership responded to the concerns raised by employees, and why are employees skeptical about their promises? What challenges does Shopify face in terms of rebuilding trust and addressing the consequences of its decisions on employees and customers?
Firing the entire Diversity and Inclusion team was also a cute move as well. There have been regular waves of layoffs almost every month. Sad reality we live in where humans are no longer needed. The rich get richer on the backs of those that do the work
This is honestly amazing – Lutke is a great CEO. I’m cost averaging into $SHOP. Love the vision. Of course the employees getting fired are unhappy. This isn’t going to stop the AI or the fact that companies need fewer people to do the same work.
You Pussy- you’ll be changing your time when the AI “revolution” takes your job and you can’t feed your ugly kids.
Must be nice to be on the other side. – One of the people who received their dismissal via mass copy/paste email last July.
I hope you get laid off <3
If AI is to be used for chat and other non-human interactions, then I say just pick up the phone and jam those phone lines.
When I had worked there they got rid of the option to speak to customer service over the phone to over 50% of our merchants. They can turn phones off on a whim if they decide and there is nothing anyone can do about it – so no, this wouldn’t make any difference.
Breaking your NDA makes you a scumbag
Shoplift is for AI customers. I am out, I prefer human
Things capitalists and their boot lickers actually BELIEVE.
you sound like a bootlicker
As an ex energy sector worker I say so friggin what.
They need to learn to code.
coding only protects you so long. same things happening in our space — takes fewer people to write a complex code. at some point all companies will not require hardly anyone to function.
If you’re suggesting that people who were replaced by AI should learn to code in order to be gainfully employed again… I have some bad news about code & AI.
I have deleted my shoplift app