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OpenAI To Launch AI-Powered Jobs Platform To Compete With LinkedIn

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

OpenAI announced on Thursday that it will launch a new platform designed to connect workers and companies: the OpenAI Jobs Platform. The AI startup will also introduce a certification program, OpenAI Certifications, to train users in AI skills.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• OpenAI will launch a new AI-powered platform to connect talents with companies.
• The startup will also introduce a certification program as part of its AI literacy commitment.
• The new OpenAI Jobs Platform is expected to compete with LinkedIn.

According to its official announcement , the new platform is being developed in response to the disruption AI technology has created in the job market, and as a solution to the new roles and opportunities it will also generate.

“The OpenAI Jobs Platform will have knowledgeable, experienced candidates at every level, and opportunities for anyone looking to put their skills to use,” wrote Fidji Simo, the new CEO of Applications at OpenAI. “And we’ll use AI to help find the perfect matches between what companies need and what workers can offer.”

For the Jobs Platform, OpenAI is partnering with companies such as Walmart, Accenture, John Deere, Indeed, and Boston Consulting Group, along with community organizations and government institutions in the United States.

The new platform will connect AI-fluent candidates with job opportunities and help companies in their talent search, aligning with their goals and needs.

The Certifications program has been designed to help professionals learn and demonstrate their AI skills. OpenAI emphasized its efforts in AI literacy, including the recently released ChatGPT feature Study Mode , and the Academy initiative launched in July .

“Now we’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,” wrote Simo. “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 added that OpenAI is committing to certify 10 million U.S. citizens by 2030 through its partnerships with other companies, such as Walmart. The CEO didn’t provide more information regarding the details or the date for the launch of the new Jobs Platform.

According to TechCrunch , a spokesperson from OpenAI said the new Jobs Platform will be released by mid-2026. The new platform could compete with LinkedIn, co-founded by one of OpenAI’s early investors, Reid Hoffman, and owned by Microsoft, the AI startup’s largest financial backer.

OpenAI and Microsoft’s alliance has allegedly been going through difficulties. A few months ago, anonymous sources said both companies met to readjust their multi-billion-dollar partnership .

Image by Victoriano Izquierdo, from Unsplash

U.S. Sues Robot Toy Maker Over Illegal Collection of Kids’ Data

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Apitor Technology, accusing the Chinese toy company of allowing a third party to obtain children’s location data without parental authorization.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

• Apitor allowed a Chinese third party to collect children’s location data.
• Children’s geolocation data was collected without parental consent, violating COPPA.
• Apitor sells robot toys for children aged 6-14 with a free Android app.

The complaint, following a referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), says Apitor violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA).

BleepingComputer , who first reported the story, notes that toy robot manufacturer Apitor markets its products to children between 6 and 14 years old, and provides a free Android application for toy control. The application requires children to activate location sharing.

However, the app contains JPush, a third-party software kit from Jiguang (also known as Aurora Mobile), which has collected precise geolocation data of children since at least 2022. The collected data remains open to any possible usage, including promotional activities.

“After Android users have enabled location permissions for the Apitor App, the app begins collecting their precise geolocation data in the background and transmitting it to JPush internet servers,” the complaint reads.

“At no point does Defendant disclose to users that the app allows a third party to collect precise geolocation data, nor does it seek verifiable consent from parents to collect precise geolocation data from their children,” the complaint adds

“Apitor allowed a Chinese third party to collect sensitive data from children using its product, in violation of COPPA,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

“COPPA is clear: Companies that provide online services to kids must notify parents if they are collecting personal information from their kids and get parents’ consent—even if the data is collected by a third party,” Mufarrige added.

The proposed settlement requires Apitor to verify that all third-party software meets COPPA requirements, to obtain parental consent before data collection, to notify parents about data collection, to delete personal information upon request, and to maintain data only when necessary.

The $500,000 penalty against Apitor remains suspended because of financial challenges, but will become active if the company provides deceptive financial information.

The DOJ submitted the complaint to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, as part of the FTC’s ongoing efforts to safeguard children’s online privacy.