TLDR: OpenAI has partnered with retail giant Walmart to launch a comprehensive generative AI certification program, with the ambitious goal of certifying 10 million Americans by 2030. This initiative aims to address the escalating demand for AI-savvy professionals across various industries, offering tailored training to Walmart’s extensive workforce and planning a dedicated jobs platform to connect certified individuals with employers.
OpenAI announced on Thursday, September 5, 2025, a significant expansion of its educational outreach, introducing a generative artificial intelligence certification program. This move comes as businesses increasingly prioritize workers equipped with AI skills. The company has forged a strategic partnership with Walmart Inc. (WMT) to spearhead this initiative, with a target of certifying 10 million Americans in generative AI by 2030. This program builds upon OpenAI Academy’s existing free educational resources, which were initially launched in March.
Donna Morris, Walmart’s Chief People Officer, confirmed that the retail giant’s approximately 2 million employees will gain access to tailored versions of the certification program, ensuring a broad impact across its vast workforce. The pilot phase of the certification program is slated to commence by late 2025 or early 2026. Concurrently, OpenAI plans to develop a specialized jobs platform designed to link AI-skilled workers with prospective employers, with an anticipated launch in the second half of 2026. OpenAI emphasized its commitment to effective program design, stating, “We’ve studied what has and hasn’t worked in the past, and are designing our programs to better serve the needs of both workers and companies.”
The urgency for such a program is underscored by current market trends. A survey conducted by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) involving 31,000 knowledge workers revealed that a substantial 71% of business leaders expressed a preference for less-experienced candidates possessing AI skills over more-experienced individuals lacking them. This data highlights a significant shift in employer demand driven by the widespread integration of AI tools.
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This educational initiative is part of a broader strategic push by OpenAI. The announcement follows a substantial $10 billion partnership with Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) for the production of custom AI chips, a move aimed at reducing OpenAI’s reliance on Nvidia Corp. (NVDA). Furthermore, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has articulated plans to double the company’s compute capacity within the next five months. The company recently pursued a $10.3 billion secondary share sale, which valued the company at $500 billion, a notable increase from its $300 billion valuation in April.
