AI is compressing talent-cycle timelines from years to weeks, creating acute supply-demand imbalances for new roles.

OpenAI does not require design candidates to have an AI background, but expects high curiosity and aptitude to learn quickly.

“We do not expect you to have a background in AI because again, this is evolving so quickly, but we definitely expect high curiosity about it.”

Fewer than 1% of job candidates have the depth to build AI-driven workflows and demonstrate genuine systems thinking.

“Less than 1%.”

Forward deployed engineer is a role facing a real supply-demand imbalance right now.

“I think that's like a real supply demand issue right now.”

Despite AI progress, we have never hired more software engineers, contradicting the belief that AI replaces engineering jobs.

“In practice, the data shows that we've never hired more software engineers.”