OpenAI To Launch AI-Powered Jobs Platform By 2026, Challenging LinkedIn

OpenAI is gearing up to enter the job market with a new platform that promises to use artificial intelligence to match employers with candidates. The service, called the OpenAI Jobs Platform, is expected to roll out by mid-2026, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch.

The announcement came from Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, who explained the idea is to “use AI to help find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.” The platform will include a separate track for small businesses and local government bodies, giving them a chance to access AI-driven hiring tools that are usually out of reach.

The move puts OpenAI in direct competition with LinkedIn, the professional networking giant owned by Microsoft. That adds an intriguing twist: Microsoft is OpenAI’s biggest investor, while LinkedIn’s co-founder Reid Hoffman was one of OpenAI’s early backers.

This jobs platform is part of OpenAI’s broader plan to expand beyond ChatGPT. CEO Sam Altman has said Simo will lead several new applications, including the jobs platform, a potential web browser, and even a social networking app.

Alongside this, OpenAI is preparing to launch OpenAI Academy, an initiative focused on building AI skills among workers. The academy will offer certifications to measure “AI fluency,” with a pilot set for late 2025. OpenAI is already working with Walmart to expand the program, with an ambitious goal of certifying 10 million Americans by 2030.

Both the jobs platform and the academy are being framed as contributions to the White House’s AI literacy programme. Altman and other tech leaders are scheduled to meet President Donald Trump this week to discuss the impact of AI on the workforce.

The timing of OpenAI’s jobs push comes as concerns about automation and employment continue to rise. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has warned that up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear by 2030. Simo acknowledged the disruption, but stressed that OpenAI’s responsibility is to help workers adapt – by learning AI skills and finding opportunities where those skills are in demand.