Employee Reactions to Internal AI Usage Mandates

​

Widespread AI Usage Mandates from Leadership

In the wake of Shopify’s April 7 memo declaring AI “non-optional” [1], many employees report their own leaders suddenly mandating the use of AI tools in daily work. In one case, a system administrator described how his CEO – a hands-on developer – emailed the whole company to push AI adoption: “he just discovered that he can delegate coding of unit tests to [ChatGPT]… so now every dev must use AI” [2]. The CEO even offered to cover AI service fees and “strongly encourages (quasi-mandates) all the dev[s] to use it” (even the infrastructure team) [2].

Other tech workers share similar experiences. One developer noted that management purchased an AI coding tool (Cursor Pro) for all engineers “and said that they expect to see a return on that investment” [3]. At an all-hands meeting, their CTO demoed Cursor’s AI assistant and signaled it should become “an integral part of how everyone is writing code” going forward [3]. As another Redditor quipped, companies have “signed big deals with enterprise [AI] software… so employees damn well find a use” for these tools [4]. Some employees feel these top-down directives are misguided or coercive: “AI tools are being pushed in my company as well. Like it’s my fault they spent money on it and now I’m forced to use them.” [3] This sentiment highlights the frustration among staff who feel pressured to use AI simply to justify leadership’s investment.

​

AI Usage as a Performance Criterion

A major theme is companies tying AI adoption to performance reviews and goals. Shopify’s leaked memo made “reflexive AI usage” a “baseline expectation” and stated that AI competency will be a formal part of performance reviews [1]. Employees at other firms are seeing the same shift. One engineer said AI use has been “written into all engineering role performance expectations” at his (non-Shopify) company [5]. According to him, embracing AI is practically the only thing his VP cares about now – “he could give a [**] about the actual work, as long as you are actively posting in the AI… Slack channel and being a ‘thought leader’ there you are golden” [5]. In other words, showcasing AI use has become a key metric for career success in some organizations. Another commenter observed that Shopify is even requiring employees to justify why they didn’t use AI for a given task as part of project reviews [1]. Many workers are uneasy that their job evaluations now hinge on AI usage rather than just quality or output of work.

​

Mandatory AI Training and Onboarding

Some employees are encountering mandatory AI training programs as companies push internal adoption. On Reddit, a software developer shared: “My company today told us to learn AI… They literally mean go watch training videos that help you use AI in your job.” [6] This reflects a growing trend of employers requiring staff to complete AI onboarding modules or tutorials. However, not everyone finds these trainings useful – the same user felt watching basic videos wasn’t necessary for something like ChatGPT which many can pick up on their own [6]. Overall, while tech news outlets and consultancies tout company-wide AI upskilling, employees report that in practice it’s often informal video mandates or rushed “learn it yourself” directives. (One Reddit discussion inquired if any CEOs have rolled out formal AI training programs, with the poster noting that despite buzz in HBR/Forbes, they “have not seen any company doing it” in a structured way [7].)

​

AI-Driven Productivity Pressure and Headcount Fears

Finally, workers are noticing that leadership’s AI mandates come with implications for staffing and workload. Shopify’s CEO explicitly told teams they must prove a job “cannot be done using AI” before requesting to hire someone new [1]. This mentality is spreading fear that AI productivity gains will be used to justify hiring freezes or even layoffs. “Ever since we adopted AI coding assistants, management is talking about ‘optimizing’ the team. I’m worried about layoffs,” one developer confessed [3]. He and others describe managers now expecting projects to be done in half the time thanks to AI, and setting unrealistic deadlines on the assumption that automation can pick up the slack [3]. There’s also evidence of companies tracking AI-derived efficiency: one Redditor said his firm started measuring “‘hours saved’” in expected work due to their internal AI tool [3]. He had “no problem with AI assisting in coding,” but *“being forced to use it and report ‘hours saved’ feels wrong” [3]. Such practices make employees feel that human effort is being devalued, and any inability to speed up could put their jobs at risk.

In summary, in the weeks following Shopify’s bold AI mandate, Reddit has been rife with firsthand accounts of similar internal policy shifts. Employees across industries – especially in tech – report new expectations to incorporate AI tools, sometimes even as formal requirements in performance evaluations. Reactions range from cautious acceptance (finding AI genuinely helpful for productivity) to resistance and anxiety, particularly when mandates are enforced bluntly or tied to job security. The common thread in these discussions is a feeling that AI is no longer just an optional helper, but rather a compulsory part of the modern workplace – whether workers are ready or not.

​

Get Connected, Share, and Other Socials

​

Sources

[1] Internal memo: Shopify CEO declares AI ‘non-optional’ - https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2025/04/08/internal-memo-shopify-ceo-declares-ai-non-optional/

[2] CEO wants everyone to use an AI. I have zero idea on what I can use it for. - Reddit r/sysadmin - https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/1f9q5b6/ceo_wants_everyone_to_use_an_ai_i_have_zero_idea/

[3] #cybersecurity #softwareengineering #vulnerabilitymanagement #ai - LinkedIn post by Nick Lasenko - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nicklasenko_cybersecurity-softwareengineering-vulnerabilitymanagement-activity-7310330833733656576-m9Ph

[4] CEOs Are Telling Their Employees to Embrace AI–or Become Irrelevant - Reddit r/antiwork - https://www.reddit.com/r/antiwork/comments/1jwdk53/ceos_are_telling_their_employees_to_embrace_aior/

[5] Shopify CEO says no new hires without proof AI can’t do the job - Reddit r/ruby - https://www.reddit.com/r/ruby/comments/1jujizb/shopify_ceo_says_no_new_hires_without_proof_ai/

[6] My company today told us to learn AI - Reddit r/cscareerquestions - https://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/1h659qw/my_company_today_told_us_to_learn_ai/

[7] Anyone considering training programs on AI for employees? - Reddit r/instructionaldesign - https://www.reddit.com/r/instructionaldesign/comments/1bw8f8a/anyone_considering_training_programs_on_ai_for/