OpenAI plans to nearly double its workforce to about 8,000 employees by year’s end as it expands its enterprise strategy. Hiring will include engineering, research, product, sales, and customer roles to boost business adoption of its tools.
The move comes as OpenAI accelerates efforts to strengthen enterprise revenue and respond to pressure from rivals like Anthropic and Google. Anthropic’s Claude is now used by eight Fortune 10 companies, while Google’s Gemini models continue to advance.
OpenAI is also reorganizing product offerings, including tighter integration of tools like ChatGPT and Codex. The hiring push follows an $11 billion fundraise in February 2026, valuing the company at $730 billion pre-money.
OpenAI is preparing for a potential IPO as early as Q4 2026. The company is hiring financial and operational leaders to convert its user base into high-value business customers.
The rapid hiring could raise cost risks if enterprise adoption lags, and OpenAI faces lawsuits over training data and intellectual property.