When was the last time you learned something new…in a chat?
As conversational AI becomes a daily learning tool for students, the workforce, and those who take crash courses for fun, Coursera is stepping in to make those interactions more structured and credible. The platform has launched its own app inside ChatGPT, one of the first by an education provider, enabling learners to access Coursera’s trusted content and expert insights directly within OpenAI’s interface.
“We’re making education more accessible by meeting learners where they already are,” said Ashutosh Gupta, Coursera’s Managing Director for India and Asia Pacific, during a media briefing in Manila. “If someone’s curious about machine learning, they shouldn’t have to leave the conversation to start learning. Now, they can just ask.”
This new experience signals a move from search-based education to conversation-based learning, a model that uses AI not just to deliver answers, but to guide discovery.
AI-powered paths to progress
The ChatGPT integration is just one part of Coursera’s broader AI-driven expansion. The company also unveiled Skills Tracks, a new feature that maps learning to real-world roles. Powered by Coursera’s proprietary Career Graph, it analyzes millions of labor market data points to recommend step-by-step paths from foundational to expert-level proficiency.
“Think of it as a GPS for professional growth,” Gupta explained. “It shows you where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there.”
Coursera is also making it easier to start learning. Its new course preview experience now allows users to access the first module of nearly every course—for free—including graded assignments and Coursera Coach, when available.
To make education more accessible locally, Coursera announced localized pricing in the Philippines, with:
- Professional Certificates and Specializations starting at $20/month (up to 60% cheaper),
- Coursera Plus (Monthly) at $24,
- Coursera Plus (Annual) at $160, and
- Individual courses at $31
Beyond technical know-how, Coursera is helping learners master the human side of work. Its new Role Play feature uses AI to simulate real-world situations like leading a team and handling tough conversations so learners can practice soft skills in an interactive space. Educators can create custom scenarios, while AI personas react and give feedback, turning practice into confidence.
On the educators’ side, they will be getting a boost with Course Builder, Coursera’s GenAI-powered authoring tool that simplifies the creation and scaling of high-quality courses. This allows instructors to focus more on teaching and less on technical design.
A learning nation on the rise
The Philippines emerges as one of Coursera’s most dynamic learning communities in its Global Skills Report 2025, ranking #88 worldwide and #18 in Asia Pacific—a sign that Filipino learners are accelerating their pace in the global skills race.
And that momentum is being driven by a growing fascination with AI. On Coursera’s new AI Maturity Index, the Philippines sits at #60 with more than 125,000 enrollments in GenAI courses, roughly one every nine minutes.
Filipino learners are diving deep into future-facing skills: AI and Machine Learning surged by 307% year over year, while Curiosity (+74%) and Customer Service (+12%) continue to rise. Technical skills like Software Development, Digital Content, and IT Infrastructure remain key areas of focus.
“We’ve seen 18,000 hours of GenAI learning in the Philippines alone,” Gupta shared. “That’s about nine years of collective learning condensed into just a few months.”
With 2.9 million learners in the country, nearly half on mobile, Coursera’s local presence reflects a growing appetite for flexible, career-focused education.
As Gupta summed it up, “The most important skill today is the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn. That’s what will define the next generation of professionals.”
