LinkedIn has rolled out a new AI-powered people search capability, allowing users to describe whom they’re looking for rather than relying on traditional filters or exact titles.
According to TechCrunch, queries such as “investors in healthcare with FDA experience” or “people who co-founded a productivity startup in New York” now return targeted profiles using AI.
The feature is initially available to Premium members in the U.S., with plans for broader rollout in other geographies. In early tests, LinkedIn says users leveraged the tool to find potential mentors, collaborators and career opportunities, identifying members outside of their immediate networks who matched nuanced descriptions of what they needed.
A Move From Filters To Natural-Language Discovery
Traditionally on LinkedIn, searching for people has required specifying job titles, company names or location filters. The new AI search changes that by letting users type conversational queries: for example “who can help me with wireless network strategy?” or “marketing analysts who recently moved into AI chip startups”.
LinkedIn said lexical search often failed when people didn’t know exact titles or how to combine filters, and the AI version aims to reduce that barrier.
The feature taps into LinkedIn’s existing graph of users, skills, connections and work history, but layers in AI-based interpretation to understand intent and novelty. The launch follows LinkedIn’s broader AI strategy, which includes job search enhancements and content-creation tools earlier in 2025.
What It Means For Professional Networking
By enabling natural-language search, LinkedIn is positioning itself as a tool deeper than title-based discovery. Professionals who seek unique expertise, for example in niche sectors or emergent technologies, may find new ways to uncover contacts.
For recruiters and hiring managers, the tool could surface potential candidates who do not neatly fit traditional filter categories.
At the same time, the rollout raises questions about how profile visibility, ranking algorithms and privacy are managed. Since the AI surface is new, how LinkedIn balances relevance and fairness, for instance giving less-connected users a chance to surface, will be a key factor.
Watch Next
Key points ahead include when the feature becomes available to non-Premium users and global markets. It will also be important to measure how often conversational queries lead to effective connections, introductions or services.
Another aspect is how competitors respond: as platforms such as Reddit or X Corp explore AI search approaches, LinkedIn’s success may define the next phase of professional-network discovery tools.
