OpenAI is expanding beyond ChatGPT with a new project: an AI-powered hiring service called the OpenAI Jobs Platform, expected to launch by mid-2026. The platform aims to connect companies and workers more efficiently, positioning OpenAI as a direct rival to LinkedIn.
The initiative was announced by Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, in a Thursday blog post. Simo said the service will use AI to “find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.” The platform will also feature a dedicated track for small businesses and local governments seeking access to AI talent.
This move highlights OpenAI’s ambitions to branch into applications beyond its flagship chatbot. CEO Sam Altman recently told reporters that Simo will oversee several such projects, including the Jobs Platform and other rumored products like a browser and a social media app.
The strategy also sets up an unusual dynamic: OpenAI’s largest investor, Microsoft, owns LinkedIn, while LinkedIn’s co-founder Reid Hoffman was an early backer of OpenAI. Meanwhile, LinkedIn has been steadily integrating AI into its own job-matching tools.
In addition to the hiring platform, OpenAI will roll out OpenAI Certifications under its Academy program, offering credentials in “AI fluency” starting with a pilot in late 2025. The company says it is working with Walmart on the initiative and hopes to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.
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Simo acknowledged concerns about AI’s impact on the labor market, citing warnings that up to half of entry-level white-collar jobs could be displaced by 2030. She said while OpenAI cannot prevent disruption, it can help by making workers more fluent in AI and connecting them with opportunities.
The programs align with the White House’s AI literacy initiative. Altman and other tech leaders are scheduled to meet President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss AI’s impact on the workforce.
