Five AI-Powered Upskilling Platforms to Boost Your Career 

The professional landscape is undergoing a seismic shift driven by rapid technological advancements and evolving consumer demands. In this competitive environment, continuous learning and development are no longer optional—they are essential for career resilience. Enter AI-powered upskilling platforms, which are revolutionizing how we approach personal and professional growth. These innovative tools offer personalized learning experiences that align with individual and organisational goals. 

By harnessing the power of data and machine learning, these platforms can pinpoint skill gaps, deliver custom-tailored content, and provide engaging, hands-on learning opportunities. Embracing these cutting-edge solutions enhances your skill set and equips you to thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing job market. This article will highlight five such platforms that can propel your career forward. 

Coursera 

The U.S.-based platform Coursera is a household name in the online learning space. Founded in 2012 by two Stanford professors, Coursera has grown to become one of the largest online learning platforms in the world. Today (as of July 2024), the company boasts more than 129 million registered learners. 

Coursera employs AI to recommend courses based on your interests, previous course history, and career goals. Its recommendation engine uses machine learning algorithms to curate a personalised learning path, helping you discover relevant courses that align with your aspirations. This ensures you invest your time in courses that truly benefit you.  

In addition to personalized recommendations, Coursera has introduced several AI-powered tools and features to enhance the learning experience. One key feature is Coursera Coach, which acts as an interactive guide in the course sidebar, allowing learners to ask questions, summarize key takeaways, practice for quizzes, and explore how their learning aligns with their goals. Another tool, Coursera Course Builder, auto-generates course content, including course structure, descriptions, readings, assignments, and glossaries, based on prompts from human authors. 

Workera 

Launched in 2020, Workera is a premier upskilling platform powered by AI, designed to assist enterprises, governments, and individuals in acquiring the essential technological skills needed in fields like data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. The Workera platform offers scalable AI-driven mentorship through adaptive assessments and personalized learning plans, delivering measurable outcomes that address the skills gap. Employees receive tailored learning plans based on their roles and goals, while companies can assess skills and design custom upskilling strategies. 

In June 2023, Workera introduced a new Skills AI product, which generates a specific set of capabilities for employees within an organisation, along with relevant assessments and lessons to facilitate skill development. The platform effectively builds a personalized curriculum for workers learning new skills. These customised learning plans provide a hyper-personalized journey, concentrating on the specific skills, competency levels, and materials that match each user’s needs. 

Duolingo 

Duolingo, founded in 2011, revolutionised language learning with its AI-powered virtual tutor. The platform, accessible via a website and mobile app, offers a diverse curriculum of over 100 courses across 40 languages. 

In 2020, Duolingo took a significant leap forward by introducing Birdbrain, an AI system that personalises the learning experience. Birdbrain adjusts exercise difficulty in real-time based on user performance, gaining insights into each learner’s proficiency as they complete more exercises. Analyzing millions of lessons daily predicts potential mistakes and customises content to ensure a balanced mix of challenge and engagement, helping users stay motivated throughout their learning journey. 

In March 2023, Duolingo also unveiled Duolingo Max, a premium subscription tier enhanced by OpenAI’s GPT-4. The new offering introduces two innovative AI-powered features: “Roleplay” and “Explain My Answer.” The “Explain My Answer” feature delivers contextual feedback to help users understand their responses better. At the same time, “Roleplay” allows learners to engage in realistic conversations with AI characters, providing a dynamic way to practice language skills. 

edX 

Launched in 2012 by Harvard and MIT, edX is a pioneering online learning platform designed to democratize education by removing barriers such as cost and location. With a comprehensive curriculum spanning free courses, professional certificates, boot camps, and even degree programs, the platform has reached an impressive user base of over 83 million (as of March 2024). 

In May 2023, edX introduced two innovative AI-powered tools: the edX plugin for ChatGPT and edX Xpert. These tools leverage advanced AI research and OpenAI technology to provide real-time academic support and facilitate course discovery, helping learners achieve their educational goals. The ChatGPT plugin allows users to explore edX’s extensive library of 4,200 courses and access in-depth learning resources on select advanced topics, starting with Circuits and Electronics. As users interact with ChatGPT, the plugin instantly offers personalized course recommendations, content, videos, quizzes, and direct links to edX.org courses. 

Meanwhile, edX Xpert is an embedded AI-powered learning assistant within the platform. Utilizing the ChatGPT API, Xpert delivers real-time, tailored academic and customer support as learners engage with online coursework from prestigious universities and institutions around the globe. 

Udemy 

Based in the U.S., Udemy is a widely recognized online learning platform that offers a diverse array of courses in multiple languages, catering to both personal and professional development. One of the standout features of Udemy is its flexibility, allowing learners to choose when, where, and what they study, all at their own pace. 

In response to the growing demand for AI-related skills, Udemy introduced several GenAI-enabled features in 2024. These innovations aim to enhance upskilling, personalisation, and overall skills development. One such feature is the Udemy AI Learning Assistant. Designed to streamline the learning process, this tool uses natural language search terms and specific learning objectives to help learners discover relevant content. It offers personalised feedback, quick responses to course-related inquiries, and links to relevant lectures, creating a more efficient learning experience. 

Another significant addition is the Udemy AI Skills Mapping tool. This feature allows organisations to identify skill gaps within their teams and connect employees with customised courses that align with the company’s strategic objectives. This targeted approach ensures that training remains both relevant and effective.  

When discussing upskilling platforms, we can’t overlook LinkedIn. The Microsoft-owned professional networking site features an extensive e-learning segment called LinkedIn Learning, which offers over 5,000 on-demand courses covering business, creative, and technology skills—all at no additional cost for users. LinkedIn is incorporating personalized AI-driven coaching into these courses. Users can access the course content, request summaries, clarify specific topics, or receive examples and real-time insights. 

Distilled 

We hope these platforms have provided a clear picture for professionals seeking upskilling assistance in today’s rapidly evolving job market. Whether you want to enhance your skills or explore new fields, remember that it’s never too late to invest in your personal and professional development. Embrace the opportunity to grow and adapt, as continuous learning is key to staying competitive in your career.