Shopify’s chief operating officer says the rise of artificial intelligence is reshaping what kind of talent the e-commerce giant wants to hire. Speaking on the Rapid Response podcast, Jess Hertz described a shift away from traditionally valued hires toward what she calls “X-shaped people” — professionals with several distinct areas of deep expertise rather than just one specialty layered on top of broad general skills.
From T-Shaped to X-Shaped Thinking
Hertz explained that she previously sought “T-shaped” employees: people with wide-ranging knowledge and one area of deep mastery. That standard, she said, no longer fits the demands of an AI-driven workplace. According to Hertz, X-shaped employees can absorb complexity much faster than their peers, allowing them to move fluidly across disciplines as AI tools take over more routine tasks. She added that building effective teams now requires thinking carefully about how differently skilled employees work together, calling team composition an increasingly important factor for leaders.
AI Expectations Set From the Top
The push for AI fluency isn’t limited to hiring criteria — it originates from Shopify’s leadership. CEO Tobi Lütke previously told staff that using AI effectively is a baseline expectation, and that teams must demonstrate AI can’t do a job before requesting new headcount or resources. Lütke has also pointed to employees who dramatically multiplied their output using AI tools, and the company has since incorporated AI usage into performance and peer-review evaluations.
Shopify’s push toward AI-driven efficiency comes amid strong financial performance: the company reported $3.58 billion in second-quarter 2026 revenue, up 34% year-over-year, driven by rising merchant sales and demand for its commerce tools.