LinkedIn, the venerable social platform for professional networking and job recruitment, is celebrating its 21st birthday with a slew of innovative AI-driven features aimed at keeping its nearly 1 billion users engaged. In an ever-evolving technological landscape, LinkedIn understands the importance of staying ahead and relevant.
To this end, the platform is introducing a range of AI enhancements spanning job hunting, marketing, and sales. These developments build upon LinkedIn’s previous AI initiatives, such as AI-powered writing suggestions, demonstrating the platform’s commitment to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence.
LinkedIn’s embrace of AI
LinkedIn has been no stranger to the world of AI. Behind the scenes, AI has played a significant role in suggesting connections, providing insights into user behaviour and shaping the platform’s overall experience. As Lead AI Engineer Deepak Agarwal noted in 2018, “In one way or another, AI powers everything at LinkedIn.” However, what has changed is the broader recognition of AI’s potential and its mainstream adoption.
Harnessing OpenAI and Microsoft
LinkedIn, now under Microsoft’s umbrella, is strategically leveraging technology from OpenAI and Microsoft to bolster its AI capabilities. OpenAI’s AI advancements, along with Microsoft’s substantial investment in the company, have provided LinkedIn with a valuable resource. Microsoft’s 49% ownership stake in OpenAI is proving pivotal in shaping LinkedIn’s AI-driven future.
Key AI-powered features
- Recruiter 2024: LinkedIn is rolling out an AI-assisted recruiting experience named Recruiter 2024. This tool employs generative AI to help recruiters refine their search queries using conversational language. It not only enhances search accuracy but also offers suggestions beyond recruiters’ initial expectations, broadening the candidate pool.
- LinkedIn Learning Coach: LinkedIn Learning is introducing an AI-driven “learning coach” in the form of a chatbot. Initially focusing on soft skills, it provides users with training recommendations, tips, and advice. The coach may also guide users to relevant courses within LinkedIn’s extensive catalogue, potentially expanding to cover technical skills.
- Accelerate for Marketing: LinkedIn is bringing AI to marketing with Accelerate, a product designed to simplify campaign management on the platform. While it streamlines LinkedIn campaigns, it is limited to the platform’s ecosystem, posing a challenge for marketers who operate across multiple channels and audiences.
- AI in Sales: LinkedIn recognizes the growing importance of AI in B2B sales. The platform is introducing AI-driven search functionality to assist sales professionals in finding potential connections and initiating conversations with leads. This addition aligns LinkedIn with the broader trend of AI-powered sales solutions.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s journey into the world of AI is not a new one, but its recent enhancements signal a deepening commitment to leveraging AI for the benefit of its users. By collaborating with OpenAI and Microsoft, LinkedIn aims to enhance its offerings in recruitment, learning, marketing, and sales. These AI-powered features not only align with industry trends but also reflect the evolving needs of professionals in an ever-changing work landscape. LinkedIn’s proactive embrace of AI promises to keep the platform relevant and indispensable for years to come.
