BELLEVUE, Wash. — Nearly a month after Amazon and T-Mobile announced hundreds of job cuts in Bellevue, dealing a blow to the region’s tech workforce, artificial intelligence company OpenAI is opening a new office in the city.
The San Francisco-based company will mark the launch of its Bellevue location Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Bellevue City Center Plaza.
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The event will include remarks from OpenAI executives, Bellevue Mayor Mo Malakoutian, and members of the Bellevue City Council, followed by a brief tour of the new office.
The expansion comes as parts of the local tech sector continue to face economic and industry pressures.
A photo of the ribbon-cutting of the OpenAI office in Bellevue on March 5, 2026. (KOMO){ }{ }
In February, Amazon and T-Mobile said they would slash hundreds of jobs in Bellevue as companies restructure operations, raising concerns about the stability of the Eastside’s tech-heavy economy.
OpenAI’s new office, opening in the neighboring city to tech giant Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, signals continued investment in the Pacific Northwest’s engineering and research talent base.
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The company said the Bellevue office reflects its growing presence in the region. The space is expected to hold up to 1,400 employees.
Gov. Bob Ferguson provided remarks via video, welcoming the company and expressing appreciation for the jobs it is bringing to Washington state.
“Washington has been a leader in technological innovation, and AI is certainly no different. Our region is very well poised to become a global hub for AI,” Ferguson said.
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Members of the media were invited to attend Thursday’s opening, which marks OpenAI’s latest expansion as demand for artificial intelligence tools continues to grow.