What I Learned at Shopify Editions.dev: AI, Flow, and a Great Time in Toronto
Jason BraunOn May 29–30, I attended Shopify Editions.dev in Toronto, and I’ve got to say — Shopify really nailed it. Great energy, top-notch organization, and some genuinely valuable takeaways for anyone building in the Shopify ecosystem.
Over two days, I got to connect with developers and business leaders from all over the world, swap ideas, and dive into some super relevant Masterclasses — especially around AI and automation, which is clearly where Shopify is investing heavily.
A Few Highlights from the Masterclasses I Attended
1. Create Your Own Storefront AI Agent
This was a deep dive into building conversational shopping experiences using Shopify’s new AI tools. We’re talking actual AI agents that can assist shoppers — not just bots, but intelligent helpers that understand context and product data.
Key takeaway: Shopify’s ecosystem is opening up in a big way for developers to create native-feeling AI experiences that live right inside the storefront.
2. Horizon, Under the Hood
This one surprised me. Horizon is Shopify’s next-gen developer platform, and getting a peek at how it’s structured — especially in terms of performance and scaling — was seriously impressive.
Key takeaway: Shopify’s architecture is getting leaner, faster, and more dev-friendly — which means better tools for building custom experiences without the overhead.
3. Make Custom Apps Irrelevant with Flow
This session really hit home. At Braun Design Co, we’re constantly working on customizing client's Shopify stores so they can perform better and more effectively — and Shopify Flow is finally starting to feel like the automation engine it was meant to be.
Key takeaway: With new Flow triggers and actions, we can now automate things we used to need apps or scripts for. That means cleaner stores, faster sites, and less tech debt for clients.
Final Thoughts
The event wasn’t just about the tech — Shopify made sure the experience was top-notch all around. The food at the venue was excellent (seriously, conference food isn’t usually like this), and I came home with a ton of Shopify swag — always a bonus.
Toronto itself was also a highlight. It was my first time visiting, and I was blown away by how great the city is. Excellent restaurants, friendly people, and vibrant neighborhoods made it a great place to explore in between sessions. Whether you’re into ramen, tacos, pastries, or coffee — this city’s got it all.
Hats off to the Shopify team for putting on such a well-run event. I left inspired, informed, and excited about what’s coming next — especially around how AI and automation are being baked deeper into the platform itself.
If you're curious about any of the Masterclasses or want to chat about what these changes mean for your Shopify store, I’m happy to share more. Just shoot me a message.