OpenAI to nearly double workforce to 8,000 by end-2026: Report

Artificial intelligence ​start-up OpenAI plans to nearly ‌double its workforce to ​8,000 from 4,500 by ⁠the end of 2026, the Financial Times reported on ‌Saturday, citing two people with knowledge of the ‌matter.

Reuters could not ‌immediately ⁠verify the report. ⁠OpenAI did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment.

OpenAI plans ​to deploy ‌most of the new hires across product development, engineering, research and sales, the ‌FT said.

The ChatGPT-maker is ​also ramping up recruitment of specialists focused on “technical ambassadorship,” ⁠aimed at helping businesses make better use of its ‌tools, the report added.

The company’s latest funding round valued it at $840 billion, as Big Tech and Masayoshi Son’s Softbank joined its blockbuster $110 ‌billion round.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman ​reportedly issued an internal “code red” in early December ⁠last year, pausing non-core projects ⁠and redirecting teams to accelerate development in ‌response to Google’s Gemini 3.