“Beyond the boardroom in India, one question continues to emerge now: How do you prepare people for a future that has driven AI?” says Ruchee Anand of India Country Head, Talent & Learning Solutions, LinkedIn's. As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to redefine the future of work, organizations prioritize workforce training in a new era of technology. For job seekers, the focus is on enhancing themselves with AI to attract better opportunities and competitive offers.
With the growing demand for AI skills, the number of teachers, coaches and experts is increasing. Some offer training through certified platforms, such as government-approved portals, IIT, Udemy, Coursera, and other Ed-Tech platforms such as LinkedIn. Others have turned to social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, monetizing their knowledge by selling courses at different price points.
According to Hari Krishnan Nair, co-founder of Ed-Tech Firm Great Learning, AI coaching roles have emerged in two different forms. The first includes IT professionals who have upskilled with AI and are now embedded in their coaching repertoire. The second category consists of AI technicians who are often deeply embedded in this field, with hands-on experience in machine learning, data science, or deep learning, and often have chosen to coach or coach others.
However, cybercrime investigator and cybersecurity consultant Ritesh Bhatia pointed to an uptick in “self-proclaimed” AI coaches preying on vulnerable learners.
“The boom of self-proclaimed AI coaches or experts flooding on YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn has made freshmen eager to upskills walking the tightrope,” Batia said. “In this AI gold rush, the real danger is not artificial intelligence, but artificially manufactured effects.”
“AI Course – New Revenue Sources”
AI training content is rapidly becoming a monetisable asset for both creators and platforms. According to Shantanu Rooj, founder and CEO of TeamLease Edtech, enrollment for online artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI-ML) courses in India skyrocketed nearly 50% from mid-2023 to mid-2024.
Nair told Storyboard18 that AI coaches with traditional IT backgrounds usually get start compensation of Rs 5 a year, while AI technicians can earn around Rs 150,000 a year. However, actual rewards vary based on expertise, experience, and the complexity of the topic being processed.
But Bhatia warned against flashy creators who promised quick success and a well-paid job. “The Internet is full of creators who have half-hearted knowledge of AI, but make exaggerated claims and sell expensive content, taking advantage of the anxiety of young professionals.'
“Reliable AI Course Issues”
To assess the reliability of AI courses, experts suggested that learners should focus on several core pillars beyond flashy marketing.
According to Nair, high-quality AI programs should offer structured assessments, individualized mentorship and live classes. “Learners need to specifically ensure that the curriculum is designed by academia and experts,” he added.
LinkedIn, shared with Storyboard18, offers over 1,500 AI courses, covering topics such as introductions to artificial intelligence, prompt engineering: how to speak with AIS, and increased time management with AI tools. According to Anand, Indian experts spend an average of three hours a week on LinkedIn Learning.
“AI is a great differentiator for companies that successfully integrate it into their products and services. Employees who know how to leverage it will create more value from their AI courses.”
Millennials and Gents make up the majority of AI learners in the country. Nair observed that 70% of the demand for Great Learning's AI courses comes from mid-level experts with over 15 years of work experience, and many people are trying to lead AI recruitment within the company.
The remaining 30% are 30% from senior experts with over 15 years of experience, and are trying to lead AI recruitment within the organization.
He said demand from fresh people remains relatively low, mainly due to limited exposure to real applications.
However, Rooj pointed out that 28% of GENZ and 23% of millennials are actively pursuing online learning in India.
Geographically, AI learning is popular among Bengaluru experts, followed by Chennai and Hyderabad, according to Nair. However, intake is also increasing in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
AI learning is no longer confined to these purely technical roles. Non-technology domain experts, such as finance, healthcare, and marketing, are increasingly applying AI in business contexts. While 70% of learners still come from the IT sector, Nair said he has also witnessed a growing interest among BFSI, energy and manufacturing professionals.
“Overall, this change shows that today's AI learning spans industry, function and career stage,” he added.
AI courses provide important leverage across domains such as “design.” Design tools equipped with AI that allow ADOBESENSEI and DALL‑E to streamline creative workflows. 'Finance': AI is used in algorithmic trading, credit scoring, and risk analysis. “Data Analysis”: Core AI/Data-Science Training teaches essential skills such as LLM queries, Python-based analytics, and data visualization. “Sales and Marketing”: AI automates lead generation, customer targeting, content personalization and campaign analytics, Rooj said.
In particular, freshmen with AI skills are directing some of the highest starting salaries, ranging from Rs 7.8 LPA to Rs 10.3 LPA in the high-tech sector. Recent studies suggest that 75% of employment managers in India do not hire candidates who lack AI skills.
“AI Learn Online and Offline”
AIREDELANED Learning forms both online and offline education in India. Access and quality have been improved by the emergence of national digital universities and the enhanced course offerings through institutions of higher education and government support portals. Currently, over 60 major institutions offer AI courses, including IIT, IIM and IIIT.
There is a lot of talk about curriculum AI at universities, but knowledge and implementation is uneven in the country, Professor Vignesh said.
He said, “The implementation of AI courses in schools or universities should be two-stage. The first stage should start by educating educators. Teachers and lecturers should know what AI is and how it is used.
Meanwhile, the Ed-Tech platform attracted the attention of young professionals with its skill-first and modular programs.
