After adding AI tools to ads, job posts, content creation, and learning, LinkedIn is now upgrading one of its core features: people search.
Earlier this year, LinkedIn released an AI job search tool for U.S. members. Users could type simple questions instead of trying to guess keywords.
According to TechCrunch, the company is now bringing the same approach to people search. Members can write natural questions such as:
- “Find me investors in the healthcare sector.”
- “Show me people who co-founded an AI company in NYC.
The system reads the request and offers matches based on skills, experience, and location. Previously, search was harder to use.
People had to guess titles or combine several filters. One wrong keyword could hide the exact person they needed.
Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn’s senior director of product management, said the older method forced users to “wrestle with filters.” But the new system will shorten the search.
AI Search
LinkedIn’s AI search upgrade was introduced at a time when major platforms are racing to improve how people find information.
Users now turn to tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for direct answers. In response, Google, Bing, Brave, and DuckDuckGo have added AI results.
LinkedIn plays a unique role in search. It is often featured in demos for AI agents and browser assistants because of its rich professional data.
Despite this, LinkedIn has not placed strict limits on its public information, unlike Reddit, which now requires licensing agreements.
Rajiv noted that policies around browser access are still developing. He also pointed out that many demos try to analyze a user’s LinkedIn network.
However, he believes that nothing can fully replace LinkedIn’s real professional graph. As he put it, “This is the worst the search has ever been,” suggesting rapid improvement ahead.
Engagement
LinkedIn tested the new system with a group of early users. Many used it to find support for job searches, business growth, or career guidance.
These behaviors show how important people discovery is for LinkedIn’s community. The tool turns broad questions into actionable results.
For example, someone exploring cybersecurity might type, “Show me people who work in network defense in Chicago.”
Another person building a startup might ask, “Find founders with experience in early-stage funding.”
Limitations And Improvements
The feature is still improving; LinkedIn says results can vary based on phrasing.
For example, searching “people who co-founded a YC startup” may bring different names compared with “co-founded a Y Combinator startup.”
The system is still learning how to interpret abbreviations and related terms. There are smaller quirks as well.
When users search for “people who co-founded a voice AI startup,” some profiles with a LinkedIn Top Voice badge appear.
This suggests the model occasionally overemphasizes certain tags. LinkedIn confirmed that it is refining query understanding to reduce these issues.
Early Users
The new AI-powered people search is now available to Premium members in the U.S. LinkedIn plans to expand the feature to more regions in the coming months.
Members with access will notice a small change in the search bar. Instead of “Search,” it now displays “I’m looking for…” This will encourage users to type natural requests, not keywords.
