Since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022, there have been huge concerns that the advent of generative AI would bring about a torrent of job losses, with humans replaced by automation.

These concerns have only increased in the years since and with the explosion of other generative AI tools and capabilities.

Now, in an attempt to counter some of these concerns, OpenAI has announced a new AI-powered jobs platform that will connect AI capable workers with businesses.

In a blog post last week, OpenAI Applications CEO Fidji Simo announced the OpenAI Jobs Platform, along with new AI certifications.

The platform, which is expected to launch by mid-2026, will use AI to connect companies with workers with the necessary tech skills in AI, and will place OpenAI in direct competition with LinkedIn.

“The OpenAI Jobs Platform will have knowledgeable, experienced candidates at every level, and opportunities for anyone looking to put their skills to use,” Simo said in the blog post.

“And we’ll use AI to help find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.”

Fears over AI job losses

There have been persistent and growing concerns that the growth of generative AI, in the form of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other platforms, will result in mass job losses and the replacement of human workers with automation.

With its new jobs platform, OpenAI is looking to demonstrate the potential for the new technology to bring benefits and open up new jobs, so long as people are trained and upskilled properly.

“I believe AI will unlock more opportunities for more people than any technology in history,” Simo said.

OpenAI Applications CEO Fidji Simo. Photo: Supplied

“It will help companies operate more efficiently, give anyone the power to turn their ideas into income, and create jobs that don’t even exist today.

“But AI will also be disruptive. Jobs will look different, companies will have to adapt, and all of us – from shift workers to CEOs – will have to learn how to work in new ways.

“At OpenAI, we can’t eliminate that disruption. But what we can do is help more people become fluent in AI and connect them with companies that need their skills, to give people more economic opportunities.”

Simo also said the platform will not just be for big businesses to source more talent.

“It will have a track dedicated to helping local businesses compete, and local governments to find AI talent they need to better serve their constituents,” she said.

“Most businesses, including small businesses, think AI is the key to their future.

“And most of the companies we talk to want to make sure their employees know how to use our tools.”

AI certifications

On top of the OpenAI Academy – a free online learning platform that launched earlier this year – the tech giant also announced new certifications for different levels of AI fluency.

These will span from the basics of using AI at work to AI-custom jobs and prompt engineering.

“We’ll obviously use AI to teach AI: anyone will be able to prepare for the certification in ChatGPT’s Study mode and become certified without leaving the app,” Simo said.

“And companies will be able to make it part of their own learning and development programs.”

OpenAI has a goal of certifying 10 million Americans by 2030 and is launching the new training scheme with partners including US retail giant Walmart.

“We realise that upskilling or reskilling programs have a mixed record and haven’t always led to better jobs or higher wages,” Simo said.

“But we’ve studied what has and hasn’t worked in the past and are designing our programs to better serve the needs of both workers and companies.

“It’s all about being intentional about the kind of future we want to build.

“If we want to put more power into the hands of more people, not just a fortunate few, we need to help everyone, at every level, take advantage of the opportunities that come with AI.

“We’ve still got a long way to go, but this is an important step in the right direction.”

The federal government has focused attention on the need to upskill the Australian workforce, particularly around AI and other emerging technologies.

A government study recently found that technology had a “greater capacity to augment work than automate work”, but that administrative roles, entry-level workers and occupations typically dominated by women were more vulnerable to job losses.

Jobs including data entry, record-keeping, accounting and communications are most exposed to job losses.