Coursera shares fell nearly 3% in recent trading, as investors digested comments from co-founder Andrew Ng, who warned that India must urgently accelerate its artificial intelligence (AI) upskilling efforts to mitigate significant job disruption. The decline in stock prices reflects market concerns about the swift adaptation of labor forces in large economies to the rapid advancements in technology.
Ng, one of the leading figures in AI education and the founder of DeepLearning.AI, highlighted the pressing nature of the skills gap as AI technology evolves faster than traditional educational frameworks can keep pace. His remarks targeted India, home to a robust $280 billion IT services sector, warning that millions of tech workers face potential displacement without timely reskilling initiatives.
As AI tools become increasingly integrated into various industries, the roles within those sectors are shifting dramatically. From enhancing productivity in software development to revolutionizing customer support, Ng pointed out that machine learning and AI systems are beginning to perform tasks previously managed by large teams. This could lead to significant efficiency gains and the creation of new job categories, but only if the workforce is adequately prepared.
Ng emphasized the urgency of a coordinated, large-scale upskilling strategy, cautioning that without it, job losses may eclipse job creation. Particularly vulnerable are the millions employed within India’s technology services sector, which services clients on a global scale.
Furthermore, Ng pushed back against the notion that artificial general intelligence (AGI) is on the immediate horizon. He maintains that while current AI models are instrumental, they are still far from replicating human cognitive abilities. Yet, even the existing narrow AI capabilities are sufficiently powerful to reshape workflows and demand for skills, making immediate reskilling efforts critical rather than a long-term plan.
Despite the alarming situation, there is a notable gap in available data regarding India’s current AI skills landscape. While government reports indicate that over 320,000 individuals have been enrolled in AI and Big Data Analytics programs by August 2025, this number pales in comparison to the millions of workers in the technology industry.
Analysts have observed that the lack of transparency regarding the number of employees with advanced AI skills complicates the assessment of how well the market can meet enterprise demand. While many corporations have allocated budgets for AI initiatives, the specifics of the roles being filled, such as model engineers and governance leads, often remain ambiguous.
For investors in education technologies and online learning platforms such as Coursera, this uncertainty poses challenges. The speed at which companies scale their investments in corporate training programs and specialized certifications is contingent on how rapidly the skills gap can be bridged. Coursera, which collaborates with educational institutions and businesses to provide professional training, stands to gain from a sustained push toward workforce reskilling. However, the pace of adoption and market demand remain crucial factors.
In response to the pressing need for AI readiness, stakeholders in India’s tech ecosystem are now tasked with reevaluating their strategies. As the specter of job displacement looms, the focus on upskilling and education becomes not just relevant but essential for securing the workforce of the future.
