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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- OpenAI introduces its OpenAI Jobs Platform.
- The experience is meant to connect users to job opportunities.
- This comes at a time when people fear AI will replace human jobs.
While AI is typically implicated in replacing humans in the workforce, OpenAI’s new undertaking is looking to wield those AI capabilities to get you a job.
OpenAI Jobs Platform
On Wednesday, the company unveiled its OpenAI Jobs Platform, which is designed to act as a job matchmaker. It uses AI to access its repertoire of experienced candidates and connect them to opportunities that match their skill set. The news comes after Salesforce’s CEO confirmed a 4,000-person layoff and attributed some of the cuts to AI, heightening fears of AI-provoked job loss.
We know that AI will create lots of new jobs, yet also create disruption. We’re announcing the OpenAI Jobs Platform to connect AI-ready workers with companies who need AI skills, and OpenAI-Certified for workers to learn and demonstrate their AI skills.https://t.co/8afA8OilSP
— Fidji Simo (@fidjissimo) September 4, 2025
According to OpenAI, the platform aims to use AI to help companies looking to hire new talent meet their needs, whether that is a specific skill, like AI knowledge, or help with a specific task. The platform is designed to help small and large companies alike. In the blog post, Fidji Simo, CEO of Applications at OpenAI, said that there will be “a track dedicated to helping local businesses compete and local governments find the AI talent they need to better serve their constituents.”
Also: 60% of managers use AI to make decisions now, including whom to promote and fire – does yours?
(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
OpenAI Certifications
As AI continues to permeate every industry, AI literacy has become an increasingly important skill for workers to have. OpenAI cited a BCG study that showed workers who hold AI skills are more valuable and paid more than those without. ZDNET just covered a recent study that found a single AI skill makes a huge difference in salaries offered across a range of sectors.
To help more people become AI-savvy, OpenAI also launched the new OpenAI Certifications. These certifications build on its OpenAI Academy, a free online learning platform for all things AI. The Academy will now offer certifications for various levels of AI fluency. According to the post, users will be able to prep for the certification by using ChatGPT’s Study mode and then become certified without leaving the app.
Also: Got AI skills? You can earn 43% more in your next job – and not just for tech work
The company pledged a commitment to certifying 10 million Americans by 2030, a goal it considers reasonable thanks to its launch partners such as Walmart. Walmart is bringing the training to its associates, an opportunity that companies will have to incorporate the OpenAI certification program as part of their own learning and development programs to upskill employees.
As some upskilling programs are more helpful than others, the company said considerable thought went into what worked and didn’t work in other approaches. For example, the company shares it will be “delivering this training in a way that is more likely to lead to skill-building than more traditional click-through certifications.”
