Coursera anticipates that artificial intelligence (AI) will dramatically transform educational methodologies and workforce training by 2026, driven by escalating demand for skill acquisition that aligns with rapid technological advancements. The online learning platform, which boasts a global network of over 191 million learners, has identified four pivotal forces shaping education and workforce development in the coming years.
The company believes that AI agents will significantly alter training models, with generative AI remaining a popular area of interest. Enrollments in AI-related courses have surged through 2025, and Coursera’s data suggests that “agentic AI”—systems capable of executing tasks for users—will emerge as one of the fastest-growing skills in 2026, as organizations progress from basic prompting to more sophisticated applications.
This trend is echoed by research from LinkedIn, which categorizes AI proficiency as the most coveted skill among professionals. Compared to 18 months ago, U.S. employees are now more than twice as likely to utilize AI tools on a weekly or daily basis. In Mexico, the job market has seen a remarkable 148% increase in demand for AI skills between 2023 and 2025, according to LinkedIn data.
“From AI integrators and data center technicians to jobs that barely existed five years ago, these roles are fuelling digital economies,” LinkedIn noted, highlighting the creation of over 600,000 new, AI-enabled data center positions globally last year.
Coursera also expects that AI will embed learning more directly into everyday work environments. Learning has emerged as the fourth most common use case for large language models over the past year, a development the company predicts will continue to accelerate. The OECD has pointed out that generative AI has the potential to enhance learning, refine teaching methodologies, and increase efficiency in educational systems when applied through thoughtful, human-centered frameworks.
In a bid to integrate learning experiences into the workflow, Coursera has partnered with OpenAI to incorporate educational elements into ChatGPT, transforming user interactions into structured learning opportunities. Additionally, in December 2025, the platform announced a new collaboration with OpenAI to launch “ChatGPT Fundamentals for Educators,” a course dedicated to helping primary and secondary school teachers develop practical AI skills for teaching.
Coursera notes that the productivity advantages linked to AI will be contingent upon large-scale, role-specific training initiatives. Citing projections from the World Economic Forum, the company states that 39% of current skills are expected to evolve by 2030. Despite this, 63% of employers identify skill gaps as a principal obstacle to transformative progress. Research indicates that only a small percentage of organizations are witnessing substantial benefits from AI initiatives at scale, underscoring the importance of aligning technology adoption with workforce development.
Workday’s report, “Beyond Productivity: Measuring the Real Value of AI,” argues that while AI tools are enhancing speed and capability, a considerable portion of these gains is counterbalanced by the need for rework. This includes correcting mistakes and verifying outputs generated by generic AI systems, leading to a disconnect between productivity improvements and tangible outcomes.
Selene Diez, CEO of Forte Innovation Consulting, noted, “Our interaction with AI has been fundamentally reactive, constrained by the ‘chat box’ that conditioned us to request isolated tasks.” This challenge persists even as the adoption of AI accelerates within organizations. The proportion of companies predominantly driven by AI has nearly doubled in the past year, with workplace usage of AI also experiencing a sharp rise since 2023. Nonetheless, a recent MIT Media Lab report found that 95% of organizations have yet to achieve measurable returns on their AI investments.
Microcredentials are projected to play a more significant role in a labor market increasingly focused on demonstrable skills. Coursera points out that its AI-driven academic integrity systems have effectively minimized plagiarism and misconduct, bolstering confidence in shorter credentials as they become more integral to education and workforce development.
LinkedIn has also introduced features that allow professionals to showcase verified AI skills and manage job searches through centralized, AI-powered tools, reflecting broader trends in skill assessment within the labor market. This shift is reinforcing a skills-first approach among employers, who are now placing a greater emphasis on demonstrated abilities rather than merely academic qualifications. Anabella Laya, CEO of Acreditta, commented, “Graduates often struggle to find work, not because they lack the skills but because they cannot demonstrate them.”
In Mexico, learners are adapting to these changes, according to Dorota Zawistowska, Director of Enterprise for Latin America at Coursera. She noted that Mexican learners are cultivating both AI and human skills to maintain competitiveness amid evolving job demands, with the company striving to enhance access to relevant education nationwide.
This individual effort exists within a broader national landscape where AI adoption is progressing, albeit unevenly. While learners in Mexico are gaining relevant capabilities, the overall AI ecosystem still faces challenges. Roberto Esparza, Chief Growth Officer at Bambú Tech Services, explained that while about 40% of organizations in Latin America are utilizing AI to some extent, Mexico ranked seventh in the 2024 Latin American AI Index, highlighting the need for focused strategies to improve its regional standing. Globally, Mexico exhibits adoption levels of 56.2% in traditional AI, 51.9% in generative AI, and 13.1% in AI agents.
Coursera’s vision emphasizes that the convergence of AI tools, workplace integration, and skills-based credentials is steering the evolution of a more continuous, embedded training model aligned with labor market demands, as institutions and employers prepare to navigate an economy increasingly influenced by automation and digital technologies.
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