Shopify is asking governments not to create AI-specific regulations, arguing in a Monday post that policymakers should instead update existing privacy, competition, and other rules where necessary and recognize voluntary industry-developed standards. The company also wants governments to reject “duplicative or jurisdiction-specific” statutes in favor of globally compatible rules, and to avoid requiring firms to audit and obtain pre-approval before launching AI applications. “Every proposed AI law should answer one question: does it make it easier or harder to start a business?” said Alexandra Clark, Shopify's VP of public affairs, with the company arguing such laws make it harder by adding compliance costs. Shopify's stance mirrors that of U.S. tech giants, which have similarly opposed state-level AI laws and pushed for global harmonization, and follows CEO Tobi Lütke's prior criticism of Canada's approach to AI regulation.
