Despite a rising demand for AI knowledge in the job market, LinkedIn users are showing limited interest in one of the platform’s most advanced features — its AI writing assistant.
LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky recently shared that the AI-powered writing suggestions, designed to help users craft better posts, have not been embraced as widely as anticipated. Speaking to Bloomberg, Roslansky said, “It’s not as popular as I thought it would be, quite frankly.”
He explained the lack of enthusiasm by pointing to the serious tone of LinkedIn itself. Unlike casual social networks, LinkedIn functions as a professional hub. “It’s your online resume,” Roslansky noted. That makes users far more cautious about what they post.
One major reason for the low engagement with the AI writing tool, according to Roslansky, is the fear of public criticism. On platforms like X or TikTok, a negative comment might sting but usually fades quickly. But on LinkedIn, criticism can have lasting effects on a person’s career. “If you’re getting called out on LinkedIn, it really impacts your ability to create economic opportunity for yourself,” he added.
This fear is especially real on LinkedIn, where many users are job seekers, recruiters, or professionals building a personal brand. In that context, even a small mistake in tone or content could make a big difference.
While the writing assistant may not be a hit, Roslansky said that interest in AI overall has grown quickly. The number of job posts on LinkedIn asking for AI skills has increased by six times in just the past year. Even more impressive, the number of users adding AI skills to their profiles has jumped twentyfold.
This surge shows how quickly AI is becoming a key part of professional life. Many users are not only learning about AI but are also trying to show employers they have those skills.
Roslansky also gave a personal example of how AI fits into his own workday. When writing messages to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Roslansky says he uses AI tools to help shape and refine his words. This reflects a growing trend of leaders relying on AI to improve productivity and communication.
Microsoft, which owns LinkedIn, is placing even more trust in Roslansky’s leadership. In a recent move, Nadella gave Roslansky more responsibility. In addition to leading LinkedIn, he will now oversee several of Microsoft’s key productivity tools, including Word, Excel, and the AI-driven Copilot.
This expanded role shows how serious Microsoft is about connecting AI with its most-used workplace tools. By having one person lead both LinkedIn and major software products, the company hopes to create a more seamless experience for users who rely on AI at work.
The strategy comes at a time when many tech companies are investing in ways to bring AI directly into the software people use every day. Microsoft’s Copilot tool, for example, helps users write emails, analyze spreadsheets, and create presentations using AI. These tools are part of a broader trend in which AI acts as a personal helper, saving time and improving work quality.
Still, the story of LinkedIn’s AI writing assistant is a reminder that not all AI features find success right away. Even if a tool is smart, users may hesitate to use it if it feels risky — especially on platforms tied to professional identity.
This caution reflects a deeper challenge for companies promoting AI. Tools must not only be useful but also feel safe to use. On a platform like LinkedIn, where the stakes are higher, trust is just as important as technology.
For now, LinkedIn users seem more comfortable learning about AI and listing it as a skill than using AI to write their own posts. But as comfort with AI grows, that may change.
In the meantime, Roslansky and his team will likely keep working on ways to improve the feature — and to help users feel more confident using it. Whether the AI writing assistant becomes more popular over time remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the demand for AI in the workplace is only getting stronger.
