Race Against the Machine: Pearson Expands AI Content to Equip Learners for Future of Work

Rhea-AI Summary

Pearson (NYSE:PSO) announced a significant expansion of its AI learning content portfolio, building on the success of its Generative AI Foundations Certification which has achieved double-digit monthly growth since October 2024. The expanded offerings target K-12, higher education, professional, and enterprise learners.

The company has nearly doubled its AI-related live training hours from 580 to 996 content hours in the past year. The initiative comes as skills gaps threaten economic losses of $1.1 trillion in the US and £100 billion in the UK. The expanded portfolio includes new certifications and courses covering agentic AI, large language models, machine learning, and ethical AI implementation.

Pearson has established strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google to enhance its AI education offerings. The company's AI content is now available in nine languages, and its digital products, which comprise over 80% of their portfolio, are backed by learning science and subject matter experts.

Positive

• Double-digit monthly growth in Generative AI Foundations Certification since October 2024
• AI-related live training hours nearly doubled from 580 to 996 hours
• Strategic partnerships established with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google
• Over 80% of products are now digital or digitally enabled
• Expansion of AI content into nine languages reaching global audience

Negative

• Economic threat of skills gap estimated at $1.1 trillion in US and £100 billion in UK losses

News Market Reaction

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On the day this news was published, PSO gained 0.47%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

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Double-digit monthly growth of Pearson's Generative AI Foundations Certification since launching in October 2024, attracting learners globally.

HOBOKEN, N.J., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the pace of technological change accelerates and agentic AI widens the skills gap, Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world's lifelong learning company, today announced the continued expansion of its AI learning content portfolio to reach more K-12, higher education, professional, and enterprise learners. This announcement follows the success of Pearson's Generative AI Foundations Certification, which has seen double-digit growth each month since its launch in October 2024.

The expanded portfolio includes certification opportunities across multiple formats and disciplines, featuring cutting-edge content on agentic AI, large language models, machine learning, and ethical AI implementation.

Pearson's expanded reach is especially critical as the demand for advanced skills accelerates and the need for effective learning experiences becomes more urgent for students and professionals to adapt quickly and stay competitive.  In the last year, Pearson's AI-related live training hours offered nearly doubled from 580 to 996 content hours, reflecting a growing priority to understand AI as it becomes woven into both classrooms and careers.

The stakes are high. A persistent skills gap now threatens to become a skills chasm, with annual economic losses estimated at $1.1 trillion in the US and £100 billion in the UK. As AI continues to reshape how we work, learn, and interact with technology - particularly with the emergence of agentic AI systems capable of autonomously executing tasks and automating complex decisions - developing relevant skills is no longer optional but essential for future success.

"The acceleration of AI innovation, including agentic AI, is fundamentally changing the skills landscape," said Art Valentine, CEO of Pearson US and President of Assessment & Qualifications. "Our expanded AI learning content, alongside strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and now Google, represent our dual commitment to teach AI and to harness AI to transform learning itself. We're committed to providing the most current, comprehensive resources that prepare students and professionals to work effectively and responsibly alongside increasingly autonomous AI systems."

"The pace of AI innovation is relentless, and it's reshaping how we interact with technology on a daily basis," said Pearson author, Sinan Ozdemir. "As AI continues to evolve, it's crucial that learners are equipped not just with foundational knowledge, but with the skills to navigate and leverage these technologies in real-world scenarios. Pearson's expanded content is designed to prepare students and professionals for this next frontier, ensuring they can confidently engage with AI as it becomes an integral part of everyday life.

Pearson's expanded AI learning content includes:

Agentic AI:

• Agentic AI and Cybersecurity Risks live training with Petar Radanliev
• AI Agents A-Z live training with Sinan Ozdemir
• Create AI Agents with Model Context Protocol (MCP) live training with Bruce Hopkins
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Agents Using LLMs live training with Sinan Ozdemir
• Modern Automated AI Agents: Building Agentic AI to Perform Complex Tasks video course with Sinan Ozdemir

Professional Development:

• Jumpstart Your AI Career live training with Anne T. Griffin
• Enhance your productivity with AI video course with Tiago Costa
• Generative AI Toolbox video course with Shaun Wassell
• AI-Powered Leadership: Mastering the Synergy of Technology and Human Expertise, 1e by Dave Silberman, Rich Maltzman, Loredana Abramo, and Vijay Kanabar
• Microsoft Copilot Pro Step by Step, 1e by Lisa Crosbie
• Using Artificial Intelligence Absolute Beginner's Guide, 1e by Michael Miller
• Developing Cybersecurity Programs and Policies in an AI-Driven World, 1e by Omar Santos

AI Certification and Qualification:

• Pearson's Generative AI Foundations Certification, available in nine languages, has achieved double-digit growth each month since launching in October 2024, reaching thousands of learners spanning K-12, higher education, and corporate learning.
• Tens of thousands of students have access to Pearson's EPQ:AI pathway within its Extended Project Qualification in the UK and internationally, underscoring the demand for AI literacy among young learners.
• In response to faculty demand for teaching the responsible use of AI, AI Literacy modules teaching students to understand, use, and evaluate AI will launch in select courses this fall through MyLab, Mastering, and Revel. Students will earn Credly by Pearson badges for completion, recognized by colleges and employers.

Pearson's application of generative AI is backed by learning science and vetted by subject matter experts. With over 80% of our products now digital or digitally enabled, Pearson is committed to the responsible application of AI to enhance the teaching and learning experience for educators, students, and employers.

Recent Pearson News

• More Than Just Answers: New Pearson Research Shows Students Using AI for Deeper Learning
• New Pearson research: The New AI talent strategy is redesigning roles
• Study smarter: New AI-Powered GCSE Exam Practice Assistant delivers a personalized revision experience
• Pearson's Connections Academy Teams Up with SkillsUSA to Boost College and Career Readiness

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 pearsonplc.com.

Media contact:
sami.miller@pearson.com; (US)
laura.ewart@pearson.com (UK)

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SOURCE Pearson

FAQ

What is the growth rate of Pearson's Generative AI Foundations Certification?

The certification has experienced double-digit growth each month since its launch in October 2024.

How many AI-related training hours does Pearson now offer?

Pearson has increased its AI-related live training hours from 580 to 996 content hours in the last year.

Who are Pearson's strategic partners for AI education?

Pearson has established strategic partnerships with Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Google for AI education initiatives.

What economic impact could the AI skills gap have?

The skills gap threatens potential economic losses of $1.1 trillion in the US and £100 billion in the UK.

What percentage of Pearson's products are digital?

Over 80% of Pearson's products are now digital or digitally enabled.

What new AI learning content areas does Pearson's expanded portfolio cover?

The expanded portfolio covers agentic AI, large language models, machine learning, ethical AI implementation, and includes various certification opportunities across multiple formats and disciplines.