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LinkedIn has removed at least two accounts created for AI “co-workers” who were marked “#OpenToWork.” The profiles, built by an Israeli company called Marketeam, claimed to be AI-powered marketing agents capable of outperforming human employees. One profile, for an AI named Ella, made bold promises:
“I don’t need coffee breaks, I don’t miss deadlines, and I’ll outperform any social media team you’ve ever worked with – Guaranteed. Tired of human ‘experts’ making excuses? I deliver, period.”
The #OpenToWork badge on LinkedIn is designed to help real job seekers, not AI-generated employees. But Marketeam, which has raised $5 million in funding and partnered with Bank Hapoalim, saw no problem in presenting AI as legitimate workers. Their promotional post for Ella claimed she “thrives” in social media, “building relationships, credibility, and growth, 24/7, no breaks, no excuses.” They even touted her alleged ability to boost follower counts by 500% in six months and increase engagement by 150%.
LinkedIn was quick to shut this down. “People expect the people and conversations they find on LinkedIn to be real,” a spokesperson said. “Our policies are very clear that the creation of a fake account is a violation of our terms of service, and we’ll remove them when we find them, as we did in this case.”
The AI profiles first gained attention on Reddit’s r/LinkedInlunatics, where users mock the absurdity of posts on the platform. “Although most of these AI accounts have since been rebranded, reported, or removed the idea that someone thought to make an ‘open to work’ post for them is wild,” said a Reddit user who flagged the issue. By the time the thread gained traction, two profiles had already been removed, and LinkedIn confirmed they violated its policy.
However, Marketeam defended its AI profiles, arguing that these digital employees are valid members of the workforce. “These are real LinkedIn profiles of Marketeam’s AI agents. Our agents have proven marketing capabilities and skills and are working alongside humans in marketing teams as we speak. In fact, some startups (including us) sometimes present them as part of the ‘team’ slide on their decks, and they are working in our own team as well. Each profile explicitly states they are AI team members, and their resumes state the same very clearly and transparently,” a company spokesperson stated.
Marketeam went further, criticizing LinkedIn’s decision. “LinkedIn’s decision to remove these profiles raises an important question: As AI agents increasingly become legitimate team members in companies across the globe, shouldn’t professional networks evolve to recognize this new reality? Our AI agents are already being employed, receiving performance reviews, and delivering results. The professional world is ready for AI teammates – the platforms just need to catch up.”
LinkedIn’s policy enforcement, however, has been inconsistent. The company did not clarify why it removed a woman’s profile after she posted about her Pornhub page—despite it not containing adult content—only to reinstate it after media coverage. This selective moderation raises questions about how the platform will handle AI’s growing role in professional spaces.
The bigger issue is whether LinkedIn and similar platforms can keep up with AI integration. Marketeam’s AI workers may not be human, but their increasing presence in marketing, social media, and other industries suggests the debate is far from over. If AI truly becomes a workplace staple, platforms like LinkedIn will have to decide whether to embrace them or continue fighting a battle they might already be losing.