Coursera celebrates AI Appreciation Day with new GenAI courses, Professional Certificate enhancements, and GenAI Academy for Teams

By Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO, Coursera

As the GenAI revolution unfolds, it is leaving individuals anxious about job security and businesses struggling to adapt. White-collar workers, in particular, must stand out by proving their GenAI skills in order to secure jobs and advance in their careers. On AI Appreciation Day, we are reminded of our collective responsibility to harness the potential of GenAI, turning it into an engine of opportunity for everyone.

Today, we are proud to announce several new initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and institutions at this critical time. These include a new selection of GenAI-focused content and credentials, enhancements to our current Professional Certificate portfolio with GenAI-specific updates, upgrades to Coursera Coach, and an expansion of our GenAI Academy to help businesses equip their teams with GenAI skills. These launches will further help meet the unprecedented demand to learn GenAI skills on Coursera, with over 2 million enrollments (four per minute in 2024 alone) across 250+ GenAI courses and Guided Projects. 

Introducing 7 new GenAI courses, Specializations, and certificates

Sixty-six percent of leaders wouldn’t hire someone without AI skills, yet only 5% of companies have rolled out reskilling at scale. We have launched the following content from top partners to help learners develop the latest GenAI skills:

• Generative AI for Software Development Skills Certificate from DeepLearning.AI – Designed for software developers and engineers at all stages in their careers, this program will explore how large language models (LLMs) work, their architecture, and their applications in various coding tasks. Learners will gain knowledge on how to incorporate LLMs as members of their development team as pair coding partners that can help test and optimize code and enhance efficiency. Skills Certificates on Coursera target specific high-demand skill sets within a field, helping learners advance their careers. Launching in August, available now for pre-enrollment.
• Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder – This comprehensive program helps learners build a strong foundation in key AI topics, including GenAI, natural language processing, computer vision, ethics, and more. The certificate can count toward credit for the online Master of Science in Computer Science degree from CU Boulder and is designed to be completed within 6-9 months.
• Generative AI in Marketing Specialization from UVA Darden – This four-course series explores how GenAI frameworks, applications, and considerations are essential to create and sustain an effective AI marketing solution. Learners will also participate in a hands-on exercise to develop a brand essence statement and generate a logo using GenAI tools. 
• Programming with Generative AI course from IIT Guwahati – Designed for software developers, tech leads, or AI enthusiasts, this hands-on course explores how GenAI tools can transform the coding workflow. 
• Responsible Generative AI Specialization from University of Michigan – By exploring the possibilities and risks of GenAI, learners will be able to identify impacts relevant to business operations, consumers, society, the labor market, and the environment. 
• Change Management for Generative AI course from Vanderbilt University – This course will delve into the strategies and frameworks necessary for organizations to successfully implement and adapt to GenAI. 
• Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teachers course from Vanderbilt University – Designed as a resource for parents and teachers, this free course will help children navigate a world filled with GenAI. It will teach kids how to use GenAI to innovate, solve problems, use multimodal prompting, and engage in creative thinking.

Find the full portfolio of GenAI content available on Coursera here.

Enhancing 8 entry-level Professional Certificates with GenAI updates

Entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera help learners enter high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, or project management within six months, with no prior degree or experience required. As GenAI transforms the labor market, mastering GenAI to enhance these roles is crucial.

These eight entry-level Professional Certificates from top companies, which have reached more than 1.7 million learners, are now updated with GenAI-specific content, including activities, readings, and videos:

Expanding GenAI Academy with skills training and credentials for teams

Today, we are also announcing the expansion of our GenAI Academy with GenAI for Teams. This new catalog from the world’s top research institutions and companies will equip teams to apply GenAI skills and best practices in a way that is unique to their business functions. With real-world applications and secure, hands-on practice, businesses and professional services firms can use GenAI Academy to unlock innovation and productivity across functional teams. Here are some of the curated programs offered by GenAI Academy for Teams:

• GenAI for Software and Product Teams (100+ courses): Streamline routine tasks such as code generation and documentation, freeing up valuable time to create and launch higher value, differentiated offerings. 
• GenAI for Data Teams (70+ courses): Optimize complex tasks such as data analysis and visualization, enabling deeper insights and more accurate business recommendations.
• GenAI for Marketing Teams (60+ courses): Maximize customer lifetime value with deeper insights, content personalization, and more efficient targeting at scale.

Introducing Coursera Coach as a sidebar experience

Coursera Coach, introduced in 2023, provides AI-powered guidance within the learning experience. Since its launch, we’ve received positive feedback from learners about how Coursera Coach has significantly helped them progress in their learning and master new skills. Today, we’re excited to announce Coursera Coach’s expanded access to nearly all paid learners and an improved user experience.

Starting today, Coursera Coach will be available as a sidebar within the course experience instead of a popup, making it a more integrated part of the learning journey. Coursera Coach will act as an interactive guide throughout a course, enabling learners to:

• Ask questions to clarify material and stay on track
• Summarize key takeaways for better note-taking
• Practice for quizzes and tests to solidify knowledge and identify gaps
• Explore how their learning aligned with current or future goals

In addition to these new offerings, our AI-powered translations have now expanded to include more than 4,600 courses and 55 Professional Certificates in up to 21 popular languages. We also recently announced a suite of Academic Integrity features to help university leaders uphold academic excellence in the age of AI-assisted cheating.

At Coursera, we are committed to helping everyone unlock the potential of GenAI. By offering mission-critical GenAI skills through trusted brands and credentials, we strive to make this technology an inclusive and transformative force.