March 23, 2026 OpenAI is preparing to nearly double its workforce from about 4,500 to 8,000 employees by the end of the year, according to reports. The expansion, which would require hiring roughly 12 people per day, is aimed at strengthening its position as competition from Anthropic and Google intensifies.
The hiring effort will focus on roles across product development, engineering, research and sales, with an increased emphasis on “technical ambassadors” embedded within enterprise customers to drive adoption and usage of OpenAI’s tools.
The move comes as competitive pressure builds across both consumer and enterprise segments. Data from payments startup Ramp suggested Anthropic is attracting first-time business AI customers at three times the rate of OpenAI, though the company disputed the methodology, arguing enterprise deals are not typically captured through credit card transactions.
Internally, the pressure has led to a renewed focus on core products. CEO Sam Altman reportedly issued a “code red” directive last year, urging teams to prioritise ChatGPT following advances from Google’s Gemini models. More recently, OpenAI’s applications lead Fidji Simo instructed staff to concentrate on improving its Codex coding model, expanding enterprise adoption and positioning ChatGPT as a productivity tool.
OpenAI is also expanding its physical footprint to support growth, signing a new office lease in San Francisco. In parallel, the company is exploring partnerships with private equity firms to deploy its products across portfolio companies, aiming to deepen enterprise integration and generate more stable revenue streams.
The hiring strategy aligns with a shift toward enterprise engagement, where both OpenAI and Anthropic are building forward-deployed engineering teams to work directly with customers.
