Week in Edtech 12/17/25: Coursera–Udemy Merger Shakes Online Learning, AI Platform Wars Heat Up, Purdue Mandates AI Skills, Higher Ed Faces Consolidation, and More! Feat. Isabelle Hau of Stanford Accelerator for Learning!

Dec 26, 2025

Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, delves into the transformative potential of human-centered AI in education. She discusses how AI can support learners with disabilities, fostering inclusivity through differentiation. Hau introduces concepts like relational intelligence and pro-social AI, emphasizing collaborative learning experiences. She also highlights the Create+AI Challenge aimed at enhancing educational methods and previews the upcoming Stanford AI & Education Summit, a pivotal moment for the future of learning.

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INSIGHT

Aggregator Power Beats University Brands

Coursera and Udemy's $2.5B all-stock merger creates a 175M-learner aggregator with strong channel power.
Aggregation shifts bargaining power from universities to platforms, enabling fees and cross-market monetization.

ADVICE

Think Bigger Than A Single Merger

If Coursera aims to transform higher ed, it must invest far beyond $2–3B and pursue deep, strategic acquisitions or partnerships.
Avoid incremental public-company moves; consider private ownership or bold reinvention to execute large-scale change.

INSIGHT

Complementary Catalogs Create Cross-Sell Potential

Coursera and Udemy are complementary: Coursera skews consumer, Udemy skews enterprise and rapid user-generated content.
Merging their catalogs and marketing reach creates cross-sell and cost-savings opportunities but raises product-integration questions.

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Join hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Kornell, Michael Horn and Dhawal Shah as they break down major moves in online learning, AI, and higher education shaping the end of 2025.

✨ Episode Highlights:
[00:00:00] Coursera and Udemy announce a $2.5B all-stock merger forming a 175M-learner platform
[00:00:30] Michael Horn on Coursera’s growing leverage over university partners
[00:02:08] Ben Kornell explores Coursera’s potential to become a global university
[00:05:40] Dhawal Shah explains the financial motivations behind the merger
[00:09:54] Michael Horn compares the deal to the 2U–edX acquisition
[00:11:54] The hosts discuss channel power and aggregation in edtech
[00:16:49] Debate on Coursera’s acquisition strategy and platform future
[00:21:43] Dhawal Shah on why these businesses may perform better as private companies
[00:22:33] Ben Kornell outlines Coursera’s two paths: efficiency or AI-led reinvention
[00:30:24] Gaps in online learning around mentorship and advanced skills
[00:35:29] OpenAI’s latest release and rising competition with Google Gemini
[00:38:55] Why content and IP still matter in the AI era
[00:48:36] Purdue introduces an AI competency requirement for graduates

Plus, special guests:
[00:52:54] Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, on human-centered and social AI in education

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This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.

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