LinkedIn is introducing a new AI-powered people search feature that allows users to find individuals by describing them in natural language, rather than relying on specific job titles, company names, or exact keywords. This marks a major shift in how users can navigate the platform’s vast professional network. Instead of using traditional filters, users can now type queries like “Northwestern alumni who work in entertainment marketing” or ask questions such as “Who can help me understand the US work visa system?” LinkedIn’s AI will analyze these descriptions and surface the most relevant profiles based on both relevance and potential connections. The feature, currently rolling out to Premium users in the U.S., will soon be available to all users globally. LinkedIn senior director of product management Rohan Rajiv emphasized that the goal is to make finding the right person faster and more intuitive. “With lexical search, you have to know the exact title of the person, or you need to wrestle with filters to find the right person,” Rajiv said. “The new AI-powered people search is designed to be the fastest path to the person who can help you the most.” This update builds on LinkedIn’s broader push to integrate AI across its platform. Earlier this year, the company launched an AI-powered job search tool that lets users describe their ideal role in plain language. Now, extending AI to people search aims to help users find mentors, collaborators, or potential hires more effectively—especially in niche or hard-to-navigate fields. The system ranks results not just by how well a profile matches the query, but also by the strength of a user’s potential connection to the person, such as shared connections or mutual groups. This personalization helps users discover people they might not have found through standard search methods. LinkedIn’s move reflects a wider trend among internet platforms to enhance search with AI. Google, Bing, and others have added AI-generated summaries and chat-style answers. Startups and even Reddit are developing AI tools to search through user communities, with Reddit recently requiring licensing agreements for AI training on its data. In contrast, LinkedIn has not yet restricted access to its data, though Rajiv noted the company is still early in understanding how AI agents and browsers will use its content. The new search isn’t perfect. Users have reported inconsistent results—such as “voice AI startup” queries returning people with a “top voice” badge instead of founders—indicating that the AI still needs refinement in understanding context and intent. LinkedIn acknowledges these limitations and is actively improving the system’s ability to interpret complex or ambiguous queries. Despite its flaws, the feature represents a significant step forward in making professional networking more accessible and efficient. It empowers users to find help, opportunities, or insights without needing to know the precise terminology or navigate complex filters. As AI continues to reshape how people discover information and connect with others, LinkedIn’s new tool could set a new standard for professional search. By combining natural language understanding with network intelligence, it aims to turn LinkedIn into a more dynamic, human-centered platform—one where finding the right person is no longer a matter of guesswork, but a matter of asking the right question.