OpenAI Upskills, Salesforce & Oracle Axe Jobs As NY Fed Denies AI's Influence

Finding the right job or hiring the right person has always been a mix of luck and timing. Sometimes things fall into place, sometimes they don’t. Now, the age-old gamble is colliding with something much newer: the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is changing the very rules of work, and with it the game of hiring. Who gets hired, what skills matter, and how employees upskill are being reshaped. For some people, AI offers a chance to learn new skills, land new roles, or even progress within the organizational hierarchy. For others, the AI revolution has brought layoffs or restructuring.

Well, it’s not just theory; the signs are already here. Companies are retraining workers more often than letting them go, with OpenAI rolling out platforms to connect AI-ready talent with employers, as other Big Tech firms are reshaping their teams to bet heavily on AI. It’s a messy but fascinating transition with winners and losers on both sides.

So, how is this all playing out right now? Let’s take a look at recent events to find out. Read on!

In a blog post released Thursday, the New York regional Fed said businesses across its district reported a “notable increase” in AI use over the past year. Still, very few linked it to layoffs, instead believing that the technology has, so far, led to more retraining than job losses.

“Indeed, for those already employed, our results indicate AI is more likely to result in retraining than job loss, similar to our findings from last year,” New York Fed economists wrote.

That doesn’t mean the coast is clear. Firms told the Fed they expect bigger changes ahead, with some anticipating more layoffs and slower hiring as AI integration deepens.


A New York Fed survey found that about 40% of service firms now use AI, compared to 25% last year, while usage among manufacturers rose to 26% from 16%. In the next six months, nearly half of service firms and a third of manufacturers expect to bring in AI. For now, the impact on jobs is minor, but the real test will come as adoption grows.

So, while companies are cautiously experimenting with AI, OpenAI is intriguingly lean. OpenAI has said it wants to help more people turn disruption into opportunity. The company is rolling out new initiatives aimed at AI upskilling.

A key part of its plan is the launch of the OpenAI Jobs Platform to connect employers with AI-skilled workers. The platform will feature candidates at every level, from entry roles to seasoned experts, and use AI itself to make smarter matches between what businesses need and what workers can offer. The company says it’s designed not just for big firms, but also for local businesses and governments looking to modernize and compete.

OpenAI is also expanding its Academy with official certifications, covering everything from basic workplace use to advanced prompt engineering, partnering with major brands like Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer. The goal is to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.

“By bringing AI training directly to our associates, we’re putting the most powerful technology of our time in their hands,” said John Furner, CEO of Walmart U.S.

In contrast, the reality on the ground tells a tougher story. For tech professionals, some roles are already disappearing as AI takes over routine tasks.

The rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT is leaving a visible mark on the U.S. tech job market. Since the chatbot’s launch in November 2022, tech job postings have fallen by more than 50%, according to data reported by Business Insider.

Recruiters say the shift reflects both cost-cutting pressures and the growing use of AI to automate coding, testing and other routine tasks, with traditional roles taking the sharpest hit. Openings for front-end and back-end developers, quality assurance testers, database administrators and technical support specialists have dropped significantly.

These jobs aren’t vanishing altogether, but demand has clearly weakened as AI systems step in to handle repetitive work. On the flip side, demand is climbing for roles tied directly to AI. Companies are hiring machine learning engineers, AI product managers, prompt engineers, data scientists and even AI ethics officers, positions that often require a mix of technical and domain expertise.

Economists say the trend points to a broader shift: while AI is cutting demand in some traditional roles, it’s also opening doors in emerging fields. To stay relevant, many workers may need to reskill and adapt to the industry’s changing needs.

These shifts aren’t just numbers on a chart. Big names like Oracle and Salesforce are now cutting jobs as they refocus on AI-driven growth.

Oracle and Salesforce are cutting over 700 jobs across California and Seattle in what they call restructuring. In the Bay Area alone, Salesforce has cut 262 roles in San Francisco and Oracle has cut 254 across multiple cities, with layoffs set to take effect in November 2025.

Salesforce has let go of 93 employees across its Bellevue and Seattle offices, while Oracle has cut 101 positions, bringing nearly 200 job losses in the area. Both companies say the cuts are part of realigning operations to focus on cloud services and AI.

“We continuously assess our structure and rebalance as needed to best serve our customers and fuel growth areas,” a Salesforce spokesperson said.

However, this is not entirely uprooting traditional hiring, as fintech leader Revolut is betting big on expansion and credibility in Europe’s banking scene.


London-based fintech Revolut has hired Frederic Oudea, the former CEO of Societe Generale, to chair its Western Europe hub in Paris. The appointment comes as Revolut gears up to apply for a French banking licence, a move seen as crucial for boosting its credibility and strengthening its foothold in the market.

Oudea, who also serves as chairman of pharmaceutical giant Sanofi, brings decades of experience from France’s corporate world. His appointment comes after Revolut announced plans in May to invest 1 billion euros over the next three years in France, including opening a new Paris office to lead its Western Europe operations.

Revolut has grown rapidly to over 60 million customers and a $75 billion valuation. With a UK and Lithuanian license in hand, it now seeks a full French license to strengthen regulatory ties and better serve local customers.

Do you think job cuts by giants like Salesforce and Oracle are a sign of things to come? Can tech giants focusing on AI expansion take a page from Revolut’s hiring playbook?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!