Garrett Wasny, MA, CMC, CITP/FIBP

In April 2025, Tobias Lütke, CEO of Ottawa-based Shopify, issued a bold internal memo: “AI usage is now a baseline expectation.” His message was clear—every team member, from the C-suite to the front lines, is expected to integrate AI into their daily workflow. No exceptions. No spectators. 

This wasn’t just a corporate policy update—it was a seismic cultural shift inside one of Canada’s most influential tech companies. And for Alberta CPAs, it’s not a distant headline. It’s a direct call to evolve. 

Why This Matters for Alberta Accountants

Shopify powers over 12,820 live storefronts in Alberta. That includes 4,938 in Calgary, 3,215 in Edmonton, and hundreds more across Lethbridge, Red Deer, Canmore, Medicine Hat, and Fort McMurray. These aren't faceless entities—they're your clients, your prospects, your community. 

These merchants are embracing AI to supercharge their marketing, automate inventory, optimize customer engagement, and transform decision-making. As they advance, they’ll expect the same from their advisors. The days of accountants simply observing from the sidelines are over. We must meet our clients at the frontier. 

What Shopify’s AI Memo Reveals

Lütke’s internal message emphasizes several core principles: 

• AI isn’t optional: 
  • Not adopting AI is now equated with stagnation.
• AI is a multiplier: 
  • It’s not just a tool—it’s a force that can 10X human potential.
• AI use is self-directed but mandatory: 
  • Every team member is expected to tinker, test, and integrate AI into their role.
• Everyone means everyone: 
  • From engineers to executives, the expectation is universal. 
     
    

This sets a precedent not just for tech companies—but for all knowledge-based professions, especially accounting. If a merchant is using AI to close books faster, predict cash flow, or analyze sales data, then we, as their CPAs, must be fluent in those same tools to deliver relevant, real-time advisory. 

We stand at a crossroads. AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a baseline reality. And with Shopify, a proudly Canadian company, leading the way, the ripple effects are already transforming Alberta’s business landscape. 
I’ve made it my personal mission to help Alberta accountants thrive in this new era—equipping them with the mindset, tools, and training needed to not just keep pace, but lead with purpose and creativity. 

Let’s rise together. 
Let’s tinker boldly. 
Let’s turn this baseline into our launchpad. 

The AI era is here. The future accountant is already becoming. Let’s make sure that future wears a CPA designation with pride.