Education giants Coursera and Udemy announce a $2.5bn online learning merger to dominate the global AI skills market.

The landscape of digital education is about to change forever. In a move that has sent ripples through the global tech community, online learning giants Coursera and Udemy have officially signed a landmark merger agreement valued at approximately $2.5 billion.

Under the terms of the deal, Coursera will acquire Udemy in an all-stock transaction. If everything goes according to plan, the merger should be finalized by the second half of next year, pending the usual nods from regulators and shareholders.

This high-stakes union comes at a time when the e-learning sector is facing a tough crowd on Wall Street. Despite both companies reporting revenue growth in the third quarter of 2025, their stock prices have struggled to impress investors.

By joining forces, the two powerhouses hope to calm investor nerves. The goal is simple: combine their massive libraries and reach to deliver better returns and long-term stability in a volatile market.

The real heart of this deal is Artificial Intelligence. With AI literacy now becoming a "must-have" rather than a "nice-to-have" for employees, the merged company aims to lead the charge in workplace retraining.

Udemy’s CEO, Hugo Sarrazin, pointed out that the merger will significantly speed up their AI product roadmap. Already, Udemy has begun rolling out "microlearning" experiences tailored for busy professionals, while Coursera has been busy integrating with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic.

The statistics are clear: the job market is shifting. Many hiring managers now refuse to look at candidates who lack basic AI skills. Coursera CEO Greg Hart emphasized that we are at a "pivotal moment" where every industry is being redefined by tech.

By coming together, Coursera and Udemy aren't just merging two businesses; they are building a global hub for the skills of tomorrow. For learners and corporations alike, this partnership promises a more agile way to stay relevant in an AI-driven world.