OpenAI is launching an AI-driven jobs platform as part of its wider push to expand AI literacy and grow its consumer and business AI offerings.

The new “OpenAI Jobs Platform” will leverage AI to match qualified candidates with companies, potentially positioning it as a rival to Microsoft’s LinkedIn.

OpenAI and Microsoft share a complex relationship: while Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest investor, having reportedly invested $13 billion, it also listed OpenAI as a competitor in search and news advertising in its latest annual filing.

The announcement was made by OpenAI’s CEO of Applications and former head of Instacart,
Fidji Simo, in a blog post on Thursday.

“Importantly, the jobs platform won’t just be a way for big companies to attract more talent. It will have a track dedicated to helping local businesses compete, and local governments find the AI talent they need to better serve their constituents,” Simo said.

She didn’t provide additional details about the platform, but a company spokesperson told TechCrunch that the service is expected to launch by mid-2026.

OpenAI also plans to roll out a new certification program through its “OpenAI Academy,” an online learning platform designed to help workers use AI more effectively in their jobs.

This move could also position OpenAI in competition with LinkedIn Learning, which provides video courses across business, technology, and creative fields, along with professional certifications.

″[W]e’re going to expand the Academy by offering certifications for different levels of AI fluency, from the basics of using AI at work all the way up to AI-custom jobs and prompt engineering,” Simo said.

She added that the program will incorporate ChatGPT’s Study mode, a feature that transforms the chatbot into a tutor by asking questions, offering hints, and giving feedback rather than simply providing direct answers.