Coursera to acquire Udemy to create $2.5B MOOC giant (www.highereddive.com)

Coursera has announced its acquisition of Udemy, forming a massive online education entity valued at $2.5 billion, with the merger expected to close in the second half of 2026. The combined company aims to generate $1.5 billion in annual revenue while cutting costs by approximately $115 million. This strategic union highlights the rising demand for AI skills training, with both companies leveraging their complementary consumer and business-to-business offerings to enhance workforce capability in AI. The merger is significant for the AI/ML community as it signals a strong commitment to integrating AI into educational platforms. Coursera's CEO Greg Hart emphasized the need to accelerate development cycles using AI technologies to improve the learner experience, mentioning a surge in demand for generative AI courses. Furthermore, Coursera's recent partnership with OpenAI to embed its platform within ChatGPT showcases an innovative approach to education. However, both companies are cautious about the evolving AI landscape, which could disrupt the demand for online learning solutions. As they prepare for this merger, the focus on sustained investment in AI-driven innovations suggests a transformative shift in how educational resources are delivered and accessed.