10 AI Career Opportunities Emerging From OpenAI Dev Day 2025

Openai Devday 2025 Ai Career Opportunities Hero

By MA • • 12 Minutes

OpenAI’s DevDay 2025 showcased a wave of new tools and model upgrades that are expanding career opportunities in the AI field. From a ChatGPT Apps SDK that lets developers reach hundreds of millions of users to the AgentKit for building AI agents, these announcements signal how AI’s rapid evolution is creating jobs, not just automating them. In fact, the World Economic Forum projects that AI will create tens of millions of new jobs in the near future[1]. “It’s the best time in history to be a builder,” OpenAI proclaimed, as they unveiled technologies to help people code faster, deploy agents more reliably, and integrate AI into products[2]. The net impact on work is optimistic: new roles are emerging, existing roles are being augmented, and individuals who embrace these tools can supercharge their careers. Below we highlight 10 AI career opportunities opened up by the latest OpenAI advancements, and how you can take advantage of them. Whether you’re a student or a seasoned professional, these trends suggest exciting paths forward in the AI-powered economy.

1. Building AI Apps in ChatGPT (AI Product Developer)

A ChatGPT conversation uses the Booking.com travel app to find a hotel – showcasing how these new ChatGPT apps blend into real user chats[3]. OpenAI’s new Apps SDK allows developers to build plug-and-play applications inside ChatGPT, creating a whole new ecosystem of AI-driven apps[4][5]. For the AI app developer or entrepreneur, this is a game-changer. You can create chat-based apps with interactive interfaces (maps, forms, images, etc.) that reach ChatGPT’s 800+ million users organically during conversations[5]. Imagine building a travel booking assistant, a design tool, or a language tutor that ChatGPT can invoke for users at the perfect moment. OpenAI launched this platform with partners like Booking.com, Canva, Expedia, Spotify and more, proving the demand for ChatGPT-integrated services[6][7].

The opportunity here is two-fold: developer careers building AI-enhanced products, and entrepreneurial ventures creating apps for ChatGPT’s forthcoming app store. The Apps SDK is open-source and built on an open standard (the Model Context Protocol), so developers worldwide can jump in quickly[8][9]. Later this year, OpenAI will allow submissions and even monetization of ChatGPT apps[10]. In other words, if you can build a useful AI app – whether to streamline business workflows or delight consumers – you’ll soon be able to publish it for a massive audience and potentially profit. This opens a new career avenue akin to the early days of mobile apps: independent AI app makers and small studios can thrive. It’s a chance for freelancers and companies alike to productize AI without needing to build a user base from scratch. In sum, OpenAI’s DevDay has essentially created an AI App Store, and those who seize this moment to become ChatGPT app developers may ride the next big platform wave.

Internal link: Learn more about developing and monetizing AI apps from OpenAI’s announcement, or explore job skills you’ll need like full-stack development and conversational design in our guide to top AI skills employers are looking for.

2. Designing AI Agents and Workflows (AI Agent Developer)

Screenshot of OpenAI’s AgentKit “Agent Builder” interface, which lets developers create AI agent workflows with drag-and-drop nodes and custom guardrails[11]. Another headline from DevDay 2025 was AgentKit, a toolkit for building production-grade AI agents that can handle complex tasks and automation[12][13]. For professionals, this heralds a new role: the AI Agent Developer or Workflow Designer. In practical terms, AgentKit makes it much easier to create AI “agents” – systems that can take user inputs, call tools or connect to data, and generate results in a structured way – without weeks of bespoke coding. The visual Agent Builder allows you to design multi-step workflows on a canvas, connecting AI models with tools (web searches, databases, APIs) and adding logic like conditional branches or safety checks[14]. This means even smaller teams (or savvy individuals) can develop sophisticated AI-driven processes that previously only big tech companies could afford to assemble.

Why is this a career opportunity? Because businesses across every sector are looking to automate tasks and assist users with AI agents. AgentKit dramatically lowers the barrier to entry for building these. Early adopters have already shown what’s possible: for example, Klarna built an AI customer support agent that now handles two-thirds of all support tickets[15], and Clay deployed a sales agent that boosted lead conversions 10×[15]. With AgentKit, such solutions can be developed in days instead of months. A team at Ramp went from a blank canvas to a working procurement agent in just a few hours, cutting iteration cycles by 70%[16]. What this means for your career is that companies will need people who can envision and implement AI-driven workflows. You could become the go-to AI solutions engineer in an enterprise, stitching together AIs and software tools to save time or improve customer experiences. Or, as a consultant, you might offer services to configure custom AI agents for clients (e.g. an e-commerce chatbot that automates returns, or an internal research assistant combing through databases).

The skill set involves a mix of high-level thinking and practical integration work: using AgentKit’s visual builder, tweaking prompts and guardrails, connecting data sources via the new Connector Registry (which links to services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Slack, etc. out-of-the-box[17]), and testing/improving the agent’s performance. It’s a bit like being a business process designer plus AI whisperer. The demand for this is evident – OpenAI notes developers are already using agents for everything from deep research to HR support[15]. As more organizations realize they can automate complex processes with AI, AI agent developers (whether in-house or freelance) will be highly sought after. This role is accessible to those who learn the new tooling and understand how to orchestrate AI tasks. It’s a chance to be on the frontlines of the AI automation wave, designing the intelligent workflows that save companies money and employees time.

Internal link: For a deeper dive into how automation is affecting jobs (and creating new ones), see our article on how AI is transforming the workplace for professionals and freelancers.

3. Becoming an AI-augmented Software Developer

Software developers are not being replaced by AI – they’re being augmented by it. OpenAI’s DevDay introduced updates to Codex (their AI coding assistant), including a Slack integration and SDK, alongside the reveal of GPT-5 Pro for the API[18]. These advances translate to a big career boost for programmers who learn to collaborate with AI. As a software engineer, you can leverage Codex (backed by GPT-4/5) as a “co-pilot” to write and review code faster than ever. For instance, OpenAI shared that internally almost all their engineers now use Codex, merging 70% more code per week thanks to AI assistance[19]. Cisco’s developers similarly cut code review times in half by having an AI agent pre-review pull requests[20]. The takeaway: mastering these AI coding tools can make you dramatically more productive and valuable to employers.

This is both a skill upgrade for existing developers and a new role in its own right. We’re seeing titles like “AI Software Engineer” or “AI Integration Engineer” emerge – people who specialize in weaving AI into the dev process and company tech stack. With the Codex SDK, for example, a developer can embed AI code assistants directly into their team’s workflow or IDE[21][22]. That might mean setting up an AI to automatically generate unit tests, or an agent to handle routine bug fixes. Developers who can do this will stand out. Even without a formal title change, any programmer who embraces AI helpers will have an edge in productivity. You’ll be able to build more feature-rich applications with the same or less effort, take on more complex projects solo, and spend more time on creative design while the AI handles boilerplate coding. In essence, you become a “10x developer” by pairing with AI.

It’s important to note that companies are hiring for these blended skills. Many job postings now ask for experience with AI APIs or machine learning familiarity, even for traditional software roles. And non-tech industries need developers to implement AI solutions, so having this expertise broadens the sectors you can work in. Crucially, understanding how to work alongside AI will soon be as expected as knowing how to use Stack Overflow or Git. A recent Harvard Business Review study found that AI is changing jobs by taking over routine tasks, letting younger professionals focus on higher-level work sooner[23]. In software, that means you might delegate rote coding to Codex and concentrate on architecture or problem-solving. If you’re a developer, now is the time to upskill on these AI coding tools (like learning how to prompt Codex effectively, or how to integrate OpenAI’s API into your build pipeline). Those who do so will find more opportunities and higher job security, because you’ll be the developer driving innovation with AI rather than being outpaced by those who do. As one expert succinctly put it, “AI won’t replace developers. But developers who use AI will replace those who don’t.”

Internal link: Check out the AI and Job Security: Myths vs Reality article to see why embracing AI tools is key to staying relevant (spoiler: AI is a collaborator, not a coder’s replacement). And if you’re prepping for technical interviews, make sure you’re ready to discuss how you use AI in your workflow – it’s becoming a common topic in interview preparation today.

4. Creating Multimedia Content with AI (AI Content Creator)

OpenAI’s DevDay didn’t just cater to coders – it also expanded AI’s creative toolkit. They announced new multimodal capabilities: a model for video generation (Sora 2), a cheaper text-to-speech voice model, and a cheaper image generation model. For those in media, marketing, design, or any content field, this spells a major career opportunity. As an AI Content Creator, you can harness these tools to produce high-quality videos, graphics, and audio at a fraction of the cost and time. For example, OpenAI’s gpt-realtime-mini model offers real-time voice synthesis at 70% lower cost than previous models[24], and gpt-image-1-mini can generate images 80% more cheaply[25] – putting capabilities that once required expensive software (or hiring specialists) into anyone’s hands. Meanwhile, Sora 2 enables developers to integrate AI-generated video into apps[26], meaning you could create an app that produces short videos from text prompts (think AI-generated educational clips, marketing videos, or entertainment content).

The rise of these tools means new roles and business models. A marketing professional can become exponentially more productive – for instance, whipping up an entire ad campaign’s assets (voiceover, visuals, copy) by themselves using AI assistance. Entrepreneurs are already emerging in areas like AI-driven video production studios, AI podcast editing, and more. Even traditional roles like graphic designers or content writers are evolving; many are rebranding as “AI creative specialists” who know how to co-create with generative models. If you develop skills in prompt engineering for images (to get the style you want) or fine-tuning voice models (to match a brand voice), you’ll have a niche expertise that companies will pay for. Small businesses, in particular, stand to gain: they can now produce polished multimedia content without a big agency, as long as someone on the team knows how to orchestrate the AI tools. That someone could be you – either as an employee or an independent service provider.

Consider also the new content formats enabled by multimodal AI. Interactive chatbots with personalities that speak (voice) and show emotions (generated images/videos) could become a form of content themselves. Fields like e-learning, entertainment, and social media management will all seek talent who can leverage these AI models. Rather than replacing creatives, the AI is amplifying creative output – and those who ride this wave will build impressive portfolios. To capitalize on this, start playing with these models (OpenAI’s DALL·E for images, the new voice model for audio, etc.), and showcase projects where you used AI to create something compelling. Employers and clients increasingly value people who can blend human creativity with AI efficiency. The bottom line: with AI’s multimodal powers at your fingertips, you can turn imagination into content faster than ever, making you a highly versatile creator in the digital economy.

Internal link: For inspiration on how traditional creatives are partnering with AI, read our piece on how content writers can form an alliance with AI – the principles apply across video, design, and audio too.

5. Prompt Engineering and AI Conversation Design

Even as AI models become more powerful, guiding them effectively remains a critical skill – giving rise to careers in prompt engineering and conversational design. OpenAI’s latest updates (like GPT-4’s multimodal capabilities and the upcoming GPT-5 Pro) still require humans to craft the right prompts, instructions, and dialogues to get optimal results. A Prompt Engineer knows how to speak the AI’s language, coaxing it to produce the desired outcome. This role has quickly become one of the hottest new specialties: prompt engineers are already earning six-figure salaries (averaging around $136,000 in 2025) with top experts making up to $250k-$300k[27]. Why such demand? Because a well-designed prompt can be the difference between an AI that adds value and one that gives nonsense. Companies deploying AI internally or in products need people who can continuously refine prompts, test edge cases, and embed the “voice” or policy of the company into AI outputs.

OpenAI’s DevDay highlights how this role is evolving. For example, AgentKit introduced automated prompt optimization features[28] – meaning the tools can suggest prompt improvements – but it doesn’t eliminate the need for human oversight. It actually underscores that prompt design is an iterative process that will be built into AI development cycles. Additionally, the new ChatGPT Apps will require conversation designers to script how an AI app interacts with users seamlessly. Think of Alexa Skills or chatbots: behind the scenes, writers and UX designers map out dialogue flows and prompts. Now those skills apply to ChatGPT’s app ecosystem too. If you have strengths in writing, psychology, or user experience, prompt engineering is a way to apply them in the AI domain. As one expert noted, “prompt engineering is to AI what coding was to the early internet” – an essential skill to unlock the technology’s potential[29].

The good news is that prompt engineering is highly accessible – you don’t necessarily need a computer science degree. Many prompt engineers come from diverse backgrounds (linguistics, marketing, creative writing)[30]. Key abilities include strong language skills, critical thinking, and empathy to anticipate how an AI might misinterpret an ambiguous request. Over the next decade, we expect these roles to become ubiquitous. By 2030, prompt specialists or “AI translators” will be common in companies, helping customize AI systems to various departments’ needs[31]. It’s also a stable career because AI models will always need tuning to specific contexts and objectives – and AI itself isn’t great at knowing what humans actually want (that’s where you come in). To get started, you can train yourself by experimenting with public AI tools and even taking specialized courses (universities and online platforms have started offering prompt design classes). As you build experience, you could work as a freelance prompt consultant or land a full-time role at a company looking to adopt AI. It’s a new kind of creative tech job where words are your code. With AI systems now in everything from customer service bots to office productivity tools, being the person who can “whisper” to the AI is increasingly valuable.

Internal link: Our detailed guide on high-paying AI careers by 2030 features Prompt Engineer as a top role, including why it’s in demand and tips to qualify. If you’re intrigued by this path, give it a read for concrete advice.

6. AI Educator and Upskilling Specialist

As AI tech floods the workplace, a huge need has emerged for people who can teach AI skills to others. Enter the AI Literacy Educator – a role focused on upskilling the workforce and the public on how to use AI tools effectively and ethically. OpenAI’s advancements mean AI is no longer confined to R&D labs; it’s in Office apps, in customer support, in hospitals – everywhere. But many employees and citizens don’t yet know how to work alongside AI. That’s why companies and governments are investing in training programs. For example, Amazon and AT&T have launched multi-year initiatives to retrain staff in digital and AI skills[32]. Studies suggest around 40% of workers will need significant reskilling in the next few years due to AI’s impact[33]. This has opened a steady career track for trainers, instructional designers, and consultants who specialize in AI education.

If you have a background in teaching, corporate training, or even just a knack for explaining tech, this could be your niche. An AI educator might conduct workshops for a company’s employees on using tools like ChatGPT, or develop curriculum for schools to introduce AI concepts at earlier ages. They might work as an internal AI trainer at a large firm, or independently run seminars (many consultants are already making a good living doing AI tool training for various industries). The role can take many forms: you could be helping marketing teams learn prompt writing, guiding factory workers on new AI equipment, or educating healthcare staff on AI diagnostics. And it’s not just about the how – it’s also about the why and when. AI literacy includes understanding the limitations of AI, ethical considerations, and when to trust or override the AI. All of these are teachable to non-technical folks, and organizations know training is crucial for safe and effective AI adoption.

Career-wise, AI training roles are proving to be stable and rewarding. They’re essentially an evolution of the IT trainers and software instructors that became common in past decades. Just as every company eventually had someone to train employees on using PCs or Office software, now they’ll need people to train on AI tools. By 2030, “AI literacy” could be as fundamental as computer literacy[34], and educators who impart those skills will find steady opportunities[34]. These roles can pay well too – especially as a consultant in the corporate sector (many freelance AI trainers charge premium rates for executive workshops). If you prefer the academic route, schools and universities are also adding AI courses for which they need instructors who understand practical usage of AI. To prepare for this career, combine whatever your domain expertise is (be it HR, marketing, finance, etc.) with knowledge of how AI is used in that field. Then practice breaking down complex concepts for beginners. Communication and patience are key – you’re the bridge between cutting-edge tech and people who may initially fear or misunderstand it. Ultimately, AI educators are enablers of all the other opportunities on this list: by helping the workforce adapt, they ensure that AI’s rise is a net positive for everyone.

Internal link: If you’re passionate about helping others adapt to AI, read our article on white-collar jobs at risk and how to thrive. It offers insight into which skills to teach and why continuous learning is so critical in the AI era – great background for aspiring AI trainers.

7. AI Freelancing and Consulting Opportunities

One of the most empowering shifts from OpenAI’s new tools is that individuals can now do what used to require a whole team or company. This is fueling a “golden age” of AI freelancing and consulting. If you have AI expertise – whether it’s prompt engineering, building chatbots, fine-tuning models, or integrating AI into products – you can offer those skills on the market independently. The data is encouraging: in a recent survey of top-tier freelancers, 92% said using generative AI tools has increased their productivity, and many reported that AI boosted their earning potential and pushed them to pursue more ambitious independent careers[35]. In other words, freelancers armed with AI can take on more clients or bigger projects than before, leveling up their income. Why hire an entire agency if a single consultant with AI can deliver the same output faster?

We’re already seeing examples: solo entrepreneurs launching AI-powered SaaS tools, writers using AI to handle larger content contracts, or one-person development shops building complete AI-driven apps. As OpenAI’s APIs and SDKs lower the dev time and cost, an independent developer can build a prototype for a client in days (which means they can take on more projects per year). AI acts as a force multiplier for freelancers – allowing you to deliver work faster and thus serve more clients or command higher rates[36]. A freelance copywriter, for instance, might use GPT-4 to draft variants of copy, and then spend their time fine-tuning and injecting creativity. They can output far more content and take on additional contracts. Similarly, an independent data analyst could use AI to quickly clean and analyze datasets for small business clients, jobs that would have been too time-consuming to do manually.

On the consulting side, businesses of all sizes are seeking guidance on how to implement AI (many don’t know where to start). This opens opportunities for AI consultants to step in and provide assessments, strategy, and even hands-on implementation. As an independent consultant, you might help a retail company set up a GPT-4-powered customer service agent, or advise a law firm on using AI for research. These consulting projects can be quite lucrative. Plus, with remote work and global connectivity, you can find clients internationally via platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal. In fact, AI has flattened some barriers – a freelancer in one country can competently serve a client in another by leveraging cloud AI services.

That said, freelancers do face some new challenges with AI’s rise: basic tasks are easier to automate, so competition might increase for entry-level gigs (one study noted a dip in job postings for simple AI-automatable tasks post-ChatGPT[37]). But the flip side is a surge in demand for freelancers who can integrate or improve AI for clients[38]. The key is to position yourself at the higher end of the value chain – offering services that use AI to deliver better results, rather than services easily done by AI. If you can advertise that you not only do X (design, marketing, coding) but do it faster and smarter with AI, you become very attractive. We may be entering an era where being a “one-person AI-powered business” is entirely feasible. Many freelancers are already branding themselves as AI consultants in their field (e.g. “AI Marketing Freelancer” or “AI Automation Specialist”). In summary, OpenAI’s advances mean you don’t need to be at Google or OpenAI to work on cutting-edge AI – you can be your own boss, use these tools, and carve out a successful career on your own terms.

Internal link: To learn how freelancers are adapting and thriving, see our analysis of AI’s impact on the gig economy and how top freelancers are using AI. It offers tips on staying competitive, which is crucial if you plan to go solo in the AI era.

8. Small Business Automation Specialist

Not everyone working with AI will have a tech giant’s resources – in fact, some of the most meaningful AI applications are happening in small and medium-sized businesses. OpenAI’s 2025 updates have made it far more feasible for a 10-person company (or a non-profit, or a local shop) to leverage AI. This creates a role for an AI Automation Specialist who can bring AI capabilities to smaller organizations. Think of it as the new “IT person” for the AI age – the individual who sets up chatbots, integrates AI into day-to-day operations, and automates pesky manual tasks, all at a scale and budget appropriate for a smaller enterprise. Because the cost of AI has plummeted (with new mini models being 70-80% cheaper[39][25]) and tools are more plug-and-play, even firms with limited budgets can implement AI solutions with the right guidance.

For example, consider a local retail business: An AI specialist could help them deploy a ChatGPT-based assistant on their website to answer customer questions 24/7 (reducing calls and improving sales). Or a small accounting firm might want to automate parts of data entry and report generation – tasks an AI can handle with a bit of custom setup. With the Apps in ChatGPT platform, even a boutique service company could have a presence within ChatGPT to reach customers. And AgentKit’s connectors to common services (Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, etc.) mean you can quickly hook up a company’s existing data to an AI agent[17], for internal knowledge bases or workflow automation. The opportunity is for tech-savvy professionals to become the go-to AI implementers for these smaller players. You might be an employee wearing multiple hats (e.g. an office manager who also maintains the AI assistant), or you might operate as a consultant who visits various clients to set up their AI tools.

This career path is especially accessible to those who maybe aren’t AI researchers but are good with technology and understand the business’s needs. It’s about practical integration: knowing which of OpenAI’s (or others’) services can solve a specific problem and then configuring it. Small businesses often don’t have R&D teams – they rely on outside expertise or self-taught tinkers. If you position yourself as an “AI solutions provider” for, say, local businesses in your community or a certain industry niche, you could find plenty of takers. Importantly, this role is also about maintenance and support. Once you set up an AI system for a small business, they’ll need ongoing tuning, updates, and maybe training for their staff to use it. That means recurring consulting engagements or even a full-time role maintaining the AI-driven operations.

We can draw a parallel to the early days of computers – many small companies hired IT consultants to set up their first networks and websites. Now they will be looking for AI consultants to implement things like AI chatbots, automated email responders, scheduling assistants, inventory prediction systems, and so on. If you already work with small businesses in an IT or digital marketing capacity, adding AI to your toolbox will make you indispensable. You’ll be helping these businesses save time and compete with larger firms by using AI as a force multiplier. And as success stories spread (like how one company’s AI support agent cuts customer service load by 60-70%, or how an AI scheduling tool freed up an employee’s hours), more small business owners will seek out this expertise. In short, OpenAI’s new offerings democratize AI for all companies – but they still need human experts to implement and tailor them. That could be you, turning a passion for helping local businesses into a modern, in-demand career.

Internal link: Many government agencies and local institutions are also adopting AI on tight budgets. If you’re interested in the public sector side of this, our article on AI career opportunities in government jobs (see AI Ethics Officer and others) shows how even government jobs are evolving with AI – and they too will need specialists to drive automation responsibly.

9. AI Product Manager and Strategist Roles

With AI features becoming core to so many products and services, there’s a growing need for professionals who can strategize and manage AI deployments from a business perspective. Enter the AI Product Manager/Strategist. This isn’t a traditional product manager role – it’s one that requires understanding AI capabilities (and limitations) to decide what to build with them and how to integrate them into a company’s offerings. OpenAI’s DevDay announcements, from Apps in ChatGPT to GPT-5 Pro, signal that every software product could soon have an AI component or an AI assistant built-in. Companies are racing to figure out their AI roadmap. They need leaders who can ask the right questions: “How can we use GPT-4 or 5 to enhance our user experience? Should our mobile app include an AI chat feature? What data can we feed into a custom agent to improve customer retention?” These are questions an AI Product Strategist helps answer.

If you have a mix of technical understanding and business acumen, this could be a perfect opportunity. You might come from a product management background and upskill in AI, or be an AI developer who’s good at the big-picture thinking. The role involves working with engineering teams to implement AI (you don’t have to code it yourself, but you need to know what’s feasible), and with executives to align AI projects to business goals. For example, after DevDay, a bank might decide it wants to deploy a GPT-5-powered financial advisor for customers. An AI product manager would scope that feature: what it should do, how to measure success (e.g. user satisfaction or conversion rates), how to handle safety (ensuring it gives reliable advice), etc., then guide the project through development and launch. It’s a high-impact role because you’re steering the direction of innovation.

We’re also seeing new job titles like “AI Program Manager,” “Director of AI Strategy,” or “Chief AI Officer” in some organizations. These positions are about weaving AI into the fabric of the company. Not every company will have a Chief AI Officer, but many will expect their product and project managers to be well-versed in AI. The net-positive news is that AI is creating more of these leadership roles than it’s displacing. For instance, a recent trend noted by industry analysts is that implementing AI often leads to more managerial and analysis jobs, to decide on AI use and interpret its outputs, rather than fewer[40]. In effect, when routine tasks are automated, the strategic and oversight tasks expand – and humans take those on. Being an AI-savvy manager could put you on the fast track to executive-level positions as companies build out AI-focused teams.

To prepare for this, you should familiarize yourself deeply with what the new OpenAI models and tools can do. Experiment with the APIs, read case studies, maybe even get a certification in product management with AI (there are emerging courses). Also, sharpen your communication skills – AI PMs need to translate between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders, and also possibly navigate ethical considerations (e.g. is our use of AI fair and compliant?). It’s a challenging role but one that can be highly rewarding and influential. Imagine being the person who introduced a transformative AI feature that propels your company ahead of competitors – that’s the kind of outcome strong AI product strategists will drive. With OpenAI’s platform and similar, there’s a lot of “building blocks” available; this role is about choosing the right blocks and assembling them into products that people love and trust. For those who enjoy both tech and strategy, this is an exciting career path where you’ll truly shape the future of how AI is used in everyday life.

Internal link: Product and strategy roles also involve ensuring teams have the right skills. Our post on the top AI skills employers need can give you a sense of what competencies to build in yourself and your team as you step into an AI product leadership position.

10. AI Ethics and Policy Specialist

Last but certainly not least, the rapid rollout of AI (accelerated by OpenAI’s new offerings) is creating strong demand for AI ethics and policy specialists. These are the professionals who ensure that AI systems are deployed responsibly, safely, and in compliance with emerging regulations. If your interests lean towards law, ethics, or policy – or you’re a techie with a conscience – this could be your calling. The role is often termed AI Ethics Officer, AI Policy Advisor, or AI Compliance Manager in organizations. What do they do? They develop guidelines for fair and transparent AI use, audit AI decisions for bias, ensure privacy is protected, and educate teams on ethical practices[41][42]. They might also interface with government regulators or help shape internal and external policy around AI.

OpenAI’s DevDay releases actually highlight why this role is so critical. With tools like AgentKit making it easy to deploy powerful agents and GPT-5 Pro offering even more capable AI, the chances of AI being misused or making harmful mistakes can increase if unchecked. Companies recognize this risk: unethical AI use can lead to legal liability and reputational damage[43]. Thus, having an in-house AI ethicist or compliance expert is quickly moving from a nice-to-have to a must-have. By 2030, experts predict many mid-to-large firms (in finance, healthcare, tech, and government) will have a dedicated AI ethics or compliance officer, much like data privacy officers became common after privacy laws strengthened[42]. Even government agencies are hiring AI policy advisors to draft regulations and make sure AI is used for public good. In fact, if you’re interested in public service, this is one of the hottest emerging government jobs too – working on AI governance at a national or international level.

From a career perspective, AI ethics/policy roles are typically senior and highly respected positions. They often report to the C-suite or board, given the importance of AI strategy and risk management. They’re also well-compensated – in 2025, an AI Ethics Officer in the U.S. earns around $120k–150k on average, with chief ethics roles going higher (median around $130k and climbing as demand outstrips supply)[44]. Beyond salary, there’s a mission-driven element: you’re the conscience of the AI project, ensuring the technology truly benefits people and doesn’t just chase profit or efficiency at all costs[45]. Many find this aspect rewarding, as you get to tackle challenging questions about fairness, accountability, and social impact.

To enter this field, a combination of skills is useful. Understanding AI technology is important (so you know what things like GPT-4 or AgentKit do under the hood), but you don’t need to be a developer. Knowledge of law/regulations, ethics frameworks, and risk management is key. Some come from a legal background, others from philosophy or social sciences, and some from technical backgrounds with a passion for ethics[46]. There are now even specialized courses and certificates in AI ethics you can pursue. Hands-on experience can involve participating in AI ethics committees, doing research on algorithmic bias, or contributing to open-source AI policy projects. Given how fast regulations are evolving (e.g. the EU’s AI Act), staying up-to-date is part of the job. But that means you’ll be in a role that’s ever-evolving and never boring. As AI continues to permeate every sector, your expertise will be called upon to guide how these technologies can be used in ways that align with human values and rights. In sum, if you want a career at the intersection of tech and humanity, steering the AI revolution toward positive outcomes, this path is wide open and in high demand.

Internal link: We discuss the importance of ethics in AI-driven recruitment in AI in recruitment: balancing efficiency with ethics. It’s a great example of how every field needs ethical oversight – and why specialists like AI ethicists are essential across the board.

Conclusion: OpenAI’s DevDay 2025 showcased how quickly AI is advancing – but more importantly, how these advances are creating opportunity. Rather than making humans obsolete, AI is reshaping work to open new frontiers for those ready to adapt. From developing the next generation of AI-driven apps and agents, to leading organizational strategy, to educating and governing the use of AI, there’s a wealth of AI career paths to explore. The common thread is upskilling: embracing lifelong learning and staying curious about technologies like the App SDK, AgentKit, and GPT-4/5. The impact of AI will be what we collectively make of it. For students and professionals, the clear message is that those who work with AI will replace those who don’t, not the other way around. So take initiative – play with these tools, build projects, read up on industry case studies – and position yourself for one of these emerging roles. The future of work in the AI era looks bright for those who are proactive. As always, JobsChat.ai is here to help you navigate this landscape, from skills development tips to interview preparation resources. The AI boom is on, and it’s creating a new world of jobs – perhaps your next dream job among them. Good luck, and happy building!

Sources:

  1. OpenAI (2025). Introducing apps in ChatGPT and the new Apps SDK[5][47]
  2. OpenAI (2025). OpenAI DevDay 2025 – Product Announcements[2][18]
  3. OpenAI (2025). Introducing AgentKit – new tools for building agents[15][16]
  4. OpenAI (2025). Codex is now generally available[19][20]
  5. OpenAI (2025). New smaller models: gpt-realtime-mini & gpt-image-1-mini[39][25]
  6. JobsChat.ai (2025). 10 High Paying Careers AI Will Create By 2030[31][27]
  7. JobsChat.ai (2025). AI Literacy Educator – emerging career[33]
  8. JobsChat.ai (2025). How AI is Transforming the Workplace (White Collar & Freelancers)[35][36]
  9. JobsChat.ai (2024). AI and Job Security: Between Myths and Reality[23]
  10. JobsChat.ai (2025). AI Ethics Officer – role and outlook[42][44]