OpenAI to launch AI-powered jobs platform in challenge to LinkedIn

OpenAI

OpenAI has announced plans to launch an AI-powered hiring service designed to connect employers with workers, putting the company in direct competition with LinkedIn. The new product, called the OpenAI Jobs Platform, is scheduled to go live by mid-2026, according to a company spokesperson.

Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, revealed details of the service in a blog post. She said the aim is to “use AI to help find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.” The company plans to include a dedicated option for small businesses and local governments, allowing them to access talent through the platform.

The move marks a step into new markets for OpenAI, which has so far been best known for ChatGPT. CEO Sam Altman has said that Simo will oversee a range of applications beyond the chatbot, with the Jobs Platform being one of the flagship products. Reports suggest OpenAI is also exploring other services, including a browser and a social media platform.

The decision to enter the hiring space brings OpenAI into potential conflict with LinkedIn, a platform co-founded by Reid Hoffman, who was one of OpenAI’s earliest investors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft, which remains OpenAI’s largest financial backer. In the past year, LinkedIn has been expanding its own use of AI to match employers and jobseekers more effectively.

Alongside the hiring platform, OpenAI is expanding its training initiatives through the OpenAI Academy. The company said it will introduce OpenAI Certifications in late 2025, offering qualifications that assess different levels of “AI fluency.” The programme will start with a pilot before a broader rollout.

The certifications are being developed in partnership with employers, including Walmart, one of the world’s largest private sector recruiters. OpenAI said it wants to certify 10 million Americans in AI skills by 2030 as part of the White House’s effort to expand AI literacy.

The push into hiring comes against a backdrop of debate around the impact of AI on employment. Industry leaders have warned that automation could eliminate a large proportion of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next decade. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has estimated that up to 50 percent of such roles could disappear before 2030. Simo acknowledged the risk in her post, saying OpenAI could not prevent disruption but would work to give people tools to adapt.

OpenAI executives, along with other major technology companies, are expected to meet President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss AI policy and workforce development.