AI is foundational to how modern EdTech and Skilltech platforms operate

Pre-COVID, we had the Normal and New Normal during COVID. How would you describe the post-COVID Normal, when it comes to online education — or are things still in a state of flux?

The pandemic fundamentally reshaped the perception of online education—it moved from being a backup or stopgap solution to becoming mainstream and mission-critical for career advancement. Universities began collaborating with online platforms to scale accessibility, and employers, too, recognised the value of digitally delivered, outcome-oriented learning. That said, Edtech is an umbrella term, and most of the tailwinds and later, the churn uring and post-pandemic were seen in the K-12 and test-prep segments, where online learning became the norm temporarily, only to retract once physical infrastructure reopened.

At upGrad, we operate in a very different space—higher education, skilling, and workforce development. Our learners aren’t motivated by FOMO or forced shifts; they are fresh graduates or working professionals actively choosing to upskill in new-age domains like AI, data science, leadership, and more to stay relevant in a changing job market. So while the delivery format has stabilised, what’s truly changed is the mindset. Upskilling is no longer optional. Post-COVID, individuals and employers alike see it as a strategic necessity—a career springboard and a clear ROI driver.

How much AI and GenAI is being used in EdTech? Will models like DeepSeek affect this field?

AI is no longer a support layer—it’s now foundational to how modern Edtech and Skilltech platforms operate. From driving hyper-personalised learning journeys to real-time doubt resolution and adaptive content delivery, AI is helping platforms deliver scalable, high-impact education across diverse learner segments.

At upGrad, AI has been the backbone of what we do – from the moment a learner interacts with our platform, our tech architecture uses behavioural signals and intent mapping to guide them toward the most relevant learning path. Our proprietary LMS ensures that learners are not just consuming content but engaging with personalised, interactive learning modules, while connecting with peers and mentors across their journey.

What GenAI has now popularised—such as dynamic content generation, contextual feedback, and intelligent learner support—we’ve been building into our systems over the years. And with emerging models like DeepSeek offering longer context windows, lower latency, and cost-efficient APIs, we see even greater potential for building more intelligent, learner-first content at scale. This is less about automation and more about a human-centred scale, ensuring every learner, no matter where they’re from, gets a guided, intuitive, and effective learning experience.

So while the delivery format has stabilised, what’s truly changed is the mindset. Upskilling is no longer optional. Post-Covid, individuals and employers alike see it as a strategic necessity.

What are the breakthroughs that have been made in hyper-personalisation and user experience?

The real breakthrough lies in how deep intelligence is being used to humanise the online learning experience. At upGrad, hyper-personalisation goes far beyond just recommending content; it’s about creating a learner journey that is intuitive, responsive, and career aligned. We combine AI-driven tools and human mentorship to support learners across academic and non-academic touchpoints. This includes:

•            Real-time doubt resolution bots

•            Non-academic coaching and well-being support

•            Auto-graded assignments for instant feedback

•            AI-assisted resume building and personalised job recommendations

•            Mock interviews to prepare learners for real-world hiring scenarios

What sets our model apart is the depth of data we gather and use meaningfully. As learners engage with our LMS, we collect over 100,000 data points, including behavioural insights like preferred study hours, learning consistency, skipped modules, and platform usage patterns. This data doesn’t sit in dashboards; it powers smarter content delivery, nudges, and job-matching mechanisms that help learners navigate from learning to placement seamlessly. We’ve also tackled one of the biggest drawbacks of online education – anonymity, by fostering cohort-based community learning, with blank-slate discussion forums that encourage peer-to-peer support, reduce hesitation, and increase engagement.

Whether it’s GenAI for real-time support or Machine Learning for placement alignment, we’re building an ecosystem that doesn’t just teach—it adapts, supports, and propels careers forward.

At a tech layer, we’re using AI and LLMs to enhance every stage of the journey—from curriculum mapping and assignment grading to feedback loops and tool-led webinars. Whether it’s GenAI for real-time support or Machine Learning for placement alignment, we’re building an ecosystem that doesn’t just teach—it adapts, supports, and propels careers forward.

What kind of low-code/no-code courses are you offering? Can vibe coding take off in India?

We have designed a GenAI program with Microsoft and NSDC, which includes a dedicated track for software developers to understand and leverage the latest AI tools in their work. One of the key goals is to simplify complex tasks using low-code and no-code solutions, making automation and app-building more accessible not just to developers, but also to those from non-tech backgrounds.

Vibe coding or writing code through a natural language prompt is already gaining traction across India. It’s especially powerful for those who may not have a formal tech background but want to explore creative coding, solve problems, or build digital tools. We’re seeing early adoption, and with the right training and exposure, this trend is only going to accelerate.

While the government has been taking necessary steps, we need stronger public and private partnerships to drive skilling and upskilling across segments and tiers. Academia must modernise curriculums and deepen industry collaboration.

How important is skilling, reskilling, and upskilling? Recently, your Enterprise Report said that half of India’s workforce was unskilled. What more can the government, academia, and companies like upGrad do to remedy this?

Skilling, reskilling, and upskilling are essential in today’s rapidly evolving economy. These are not optional steps for career growth; they are necessities. Our Skilling Smarter Report, recently launched by upGrad Enterprise based on 12,300+ respondents, highlighted a pressing concern—nearly 50 per cent of India’s workforce remains unskilled or under-skilled, particularly in the context of new-age technologies and the ongoing digital transformation. This gap is not just about employability; it reflects a much deeper productivity and competitiveness challenge for the country.

While the government has been taking necessary steps, we need stronger public and private partnerships to drive skilling and upskilling across segments and tiers. Academia must modernise curricula and deepen industry collaboration, so graduates are equipped with relevant and future-ready skills. UpGrad is obsessed with driving career outcomes for its learners and, therefore, we reverse-engineer our content based on what employers are hiring for, across domains like AI, data, leadership, and soft skills. The goal is to ensure that every learner isn’t just educated, but employable, relevant, and future-ready.

sunilr@cybermedia.co.in