The integration of AI in hiring has created a trust gap between employers and job candidates, writes Jamie Kohn, senior director of research at Gartner. Candidates are concerned about the fairness and transparency of AI evaluations, while employers must deal with AI-driven job candidate fraud. Kohn emphasizes the need for transparency and human oversight to rebuild trust.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced plans for an AI-powered job platform and a certification program aimed at training 10 million Americans by 2030. The job platform, set to launch next year, will use large language models to match employers to candidates with AI skills, ranging from entry-level to senior experts. This initiative positions OpenAI as a competitor to LinkedIn.

AI's influence on hiring practices is growing, with some firms reducing hiring due to increased productivity, according to a regional survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. While a small percentage of service firms reported fewer hires in the past six months, the trend is expected to grow, especially affecting roles requiring a college degree.

The rise of AI is eliminating many entry-level jobs, raising questions about the future of the traditional career ladder. CEOs Antonio Neri of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Doug McMillon of Walmart are examples of leaders who began in entry-level roles. "The bottom rung is disappearing," says Heather Doshay, a partner at SignalFire, "but that has the potential to uplevel everyone."

US job openings fell to a 10-month low of 7.18 million in July, marking the first time since the pandemic that there are more unemployed people than available jobs, according to the Labor Department. Despite the decrease in job openings, layoffs remain low, and hiring is tepid.

Women excel at discerning workplace connections by using a "triadic" method -- assuming two people are linked if they share a connection with a third colleague, according to a study from University of South Carolina. For example: "Oh yes, that's colleague X who worked for boss Y on that big project Z last year." This mental shortcut boosts accuracy in structured, interconnected teams but can cause women to misjudge relationships in looser, informal networks.

Walmart is partnering with OpenAI to create an AI certification program for US frontline and office employees, debuting in 2026 as part of Walmart's initiative to invest nearly $1 billion in skills training through 2026. "By bringing AI training directly to our associates, we'll enable our people to maximize the benefit of AI-powered technology -- giving them the skills they need to rewrite the playbook and shape the future of retail," says John Furner, Walmart US president and CEO.