LinkedIn Adds Verified AI Skill Badges to User Profiles

LinkedIn Introduces Verified AI Skill Badges

LinkedIn, the professional networking platform, is rolling out a new feature that lets members showcase verified expertise in a group of emerging AI coding tools. The update focuses on what the company calls “vibe coding,” a term used to describe work that leverages AI-driven development environments.

Rather than relying on self‑reported claims, LinkedIn will partner with the creators of several AI tools to assess a user’s proficiency and automatically assign a level that appears on the member’s profile. The announced partners include Replit, Lovable, Descript and Relay.app, with additional integrations planned for other Microsoft‑owned services.

Each partner will use its own rating system. Lovable may award a “bronze” badge for vibe coding, Replit employs numerical levels, and Relay.app could label a user as an “intermediate” AI Agent Builder. These badges are designed to update dynamically as the individual gains more experience with the associated tools.

LinkedIn’s head of career products, Pat Whealan, explained that the addition of AI‑specific skill signals reflects the growing importance of these capabilities in the hiring process. He emphasized that the new badges are intended to complement, not replace, existing profile indicators. “This is less about replacing any of those other existing signals, and more about showing new ways that people are doing work,” Whealan said. “And how do we give a verifiable signal to both hirers and other people looking at their profile, that they actually are using these tools on a regular basis.”

The feature arrives at a time when many organizations are adopting AI tools to automate tasks and, in some cases, reduce workforce size. While the ability to display verified AI skill badges may be valuable for job seekers, the broader context includes ongoing debates about the impact of automation on employment.

LinkedIn’s traditional approach has allowed users to add skills and certifications manually. The new system differs by providing an external validation mechanism, where the tool providers themselves assess and certify the user’s competence. This verification aims to give recruiters a more trustworthy indicator of a candidate’s hands‑on experience with AI development platforms.

By integrating these badges directly into profiles, LinkedIn hopes to streamline the talent‑matching process for roles that demand familiarity with modern AI coding environments. The platform also plans to continue expanding partnerships, including potential integrations with GitHub and Zapier, to broaden the range of tools covered.

Overall, the initiative reflects LinkedIn’s effort to adapt its professional networking services to the evolving landscape of AI‑augmented work, offering members a way to demonstrate concrete, verifiable expertise in a rapidly growing skill set.