IBM and Pearson Collaborate to Build New AI-Powered Learning Tools for Organizations and Individuals Worldwide
Rhea-AI Summary
IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Pearson announced a global partnership on Dec 11, 2025 to build AI-powered personalized learning tools for businesses, public organizations, and educational institutions.
The collaboration will use watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Governance, create a custom AI learning platform combining human experts with AI assistants, and integrate Pearson solutions including Credly, Faethm, and Pearson Professional Assessments.
The companies say IBM customers and 270,000 IBM employees will have access to Pearson enterprise learning; Pearson research cited a $1.1 trillion annual US loss from skills mismatches as market context. Announced goals are subject to change.
Positive
- Global partnership to build AI-powered personalized learning tools
- Solutions built using watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Governance
- Access to Pearson enterprise learning for IBM's 270,000 employees
- $1.1 trillion US opportunity cited from skills mismatches
Negative
- Announcement contains non-binding goals and subject-to-change language
- No commercial terms, revenue targets, or timelines disclosed
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
IBM showed a 0.71% gain alongside several IT services peers: ACN +1.43%, INFY +2.44%, CTSH +4.77%, and FIS +2.13%, while FI was slightly negative at -0.17%. Another peer, CTSH, also had AI-related news, reinforcing an AI-focused theme in the space.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 08 | AI acquisition | Positive | +0.4% | Planned Confluent acquisition to build smart data platform for generative AI. |
| Dec 08 | AI partnership | Positive | +0.4% | Riyadh Air collaboration to develop AI-native airline operations and services. |
| Dec 05 | Regulatory designation | Positive | -0.0% | EU DORA critical ICT third‑party provider designation for financial sector resilience. |
| Nov 20 | Quantum collaboration | Positive | +0.7% | Cisco partnership targeting large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing network. |
| Nov 19 | R&D partnership | Positive | -0.5% | University of Dayton collaboration for next‑generation semiconductor technologies. |
Recent strategic and AI-related announcements have typically produced modest single-day moves, with slightly more events aligning positively with the news than diverging.
Over the past month, IBM has issued several strategic announcements, including the planned Confluent acquisition for enterprise generative AI (Dec 8) and an AI-native airline partnership with Riyadh Air (Dec 8), both followed by small positive moves of 0.4%. Other news covered EU DORA critical-provider status, quantum computing collaboration with Cisco, and a semiconductor research partnership with the University of Dayton. Today’s AI learning collaboration with Pearson fits this pattern of AI-focused ecosystem and infrastructure expansion.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights IBM’s expansion of AI-powered offerings into workforce and education through a global partnership with Pearson, leveraging tools like watsonx Orchestrate and AI agents. It adds to a series of AI collaborations across industries. Investors may watch how these initiatives translate into adoption metrics, revenue contributions, and integration with IBM’s existing AI platforms and its base of 270,000 employees and enterprise customers.
Key Terms
AI agents technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Recent research from Pearson found that inefficient career transitions and skills mismatches will cost the US economy
IBM and Pearson aim to address these needs with AI-powered learning tools, built using watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx Governance, which will be available globally. IBM will also help Pearson build a custom AI-powered learning platform - similar to IBM Consulting Advantage - that combines human expertise with AI assistants, agents, and assets. The platform will drive growth with new products and services, while transforming Pearson's operations to enhance workflows, productivity, and data-driven decision-making.
As IBM's primary strategic partner for customer upskilling and workforce transformation, IBM customers and its 270,000 employees will benefit from Pearson's enterprise learning solutions. These include, Credly for digital credentialing, Faethm for strategic workforce planning, and Pearson Professional Assessments, which delivers IBM professional certification exams globally.
In addition, IBM and Pearson will explore the development of tools that will help verify the capabilities of AI agents, ensuring organizations can deploy them with confidence. This combines IBM's expertise in building reliable, responsible AI with Pearson's deep understanding of learning, skills development, and recognized credentials.
"Technology is evolving faster than human skills can keep pace. To close this gap, learning must be embedded seamlessly into the flow of work. When people learn where work happens, it has an immediate impact on productivity and performance," said Omar Abbosh, CEO of Pearson. "Together with IBM, we're building trusted AI-powered learning tools that will help people and organizations adapt, learn, and thrive in a world of constant change."
"Whether you're leading a company or just graduating, everyone needs to build new skills for the AI era," said Arvind Krishna, CEO of IBM. "IBM and Pearson are bringing AI-powered education to more organizations to help people learn faster. Together, we're helping companies and their teams adapt to change and succeed, while helping Pearson transform its own internal operations."
This partnership advances Pearson's strategy to build 360-degree relationships with a select group of strategic partners to deliver stronger customer outcomes, drive joint go-to-market initiatives, and enable shared growth.
Statements regarding IBM's and Pearson's future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c. 18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's lifelong learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at plc.pearson.com.
Media contacts
Pearson
Laura Ewart, laura.ewart@pearson.com [
Sami Miller, sami.miller@pearson.com [US]
IBM
Elizabeth Brophy
AI Communications, IBM Corporate Affairs
elizabeth.brophy@ibm.com
+1 505-379-3476
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SOURCE Pearson
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