Whalesbook
AI-Driven Curriculum Overhaul
The rapid advancement of AI tools that can handle complex tasks, once needing extensive training, is reshaping education. Arjun Nair, co-founder and COO at Great Learning, explains, "What used to take six weeks of coding fundamentals can now be done in two weeks with AI-assisted coding." This extra time is now focused on essential skills like defining problems, checking data quality, understanding business needs, and interpreting results, preparing students for more strategic job functions.
No-Code Pathways and Evolving Demographics
Great Learning is also expanding its reach with new no-code learning paths. These have become very popular, with 80 percent of students choosing the no-code option. As a result, students from non-technical fields now make up 58 percent of the user base in FY26, a sharp rise from 36 percent in FY24. This change shows that tech upskilling is appealing to a much broader range of professionals.
Peer Adaptation and New Role Creation
Rival edtech firms are taking a similar, but adjusted, approach. Newton School is embedding AI throughout its courses, dedicating 20-30 percent of learning time to AI-focused tasks, while still ensuring solid foundational knowledge. Topics like prompt engineering and using large language models (LLMs) are now part of regular assignments, not separate lessons. This updated curriculum supports the rise of new AI-focused jobs, like Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE). This role combines engineering, product development, and deployment, and is becoming sought after globally as companies aim to put AI systems into practice. Raghav Gupta, CEO of Futurense, noted the lack of formal training for FDE, leading to the creation of FDE Academy to link Indian professionals with these global AI implementation roles.
Shorter, Outcome-Driven Formats
Courses are now being designed to be shorter and more focused on practical results. Most new programs at Great Learning run for three to five months, with about 70 percent dedicated to hands-on application. Newton School states that 70-80 percent of its courses are project-based, allowing students to develop and refine ideas quickly without frequent roadblocks. With businesses increasingly requiring AI skills in every department, edtech companies believe professionals are looking to use AI in their current jobs more than ever, rather than solely seeking a complete career change.