Coursera’s Hadi Moussa emphasizes the importance of keeping AI in mind, but he also highlights the need for HR teams to strike a balance between technical expertise and softer skills
In the realm of 2023, artificial intelligence, especially generative AI, has experienced a “meteoric rise,” as highlighted in Coursera‘s latest research on Job Skills of 2024. Andrew Ng, co-founder and chairman of Coursera, draws parallels between the transformative impact of AI today and the industrial revolution powered by electricity a century ago. McKinsey estimates that generative AI could contribute a staggering $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy through productivity gains.
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Ng emphasizes the responsibility of leaders to equip individuals with AI skills, not just to enhance employability but also to empower them to reshape the nature of their work. The data from Coursera‘s deep dive into the learning landscape reveals a significant surge in AI-related skills, with a remarkable 157% year-on-year increase in enrollments for generative AI courses in 2023.
In an exclusive conversation with UNLEASH, Hadi Moussa, Coursera’s Managing Director for EMEA, shares the remarkable impact of AI courses. Internal data indicates that, on average, a learner enrolled in a Generative AI course on Coursera approximately every minute in 2023. The course ‘Generative AI for Everyone’ saw an impressive 43,000 enrollments in its first week after release, making it the fastest-growing course of the year.
Surprisingly, Coursera’s report found that AI skills weren’t the sole focus in 2023. Despite the dominance of AI, the fastest-growing skills overall were softer, human skills. This aligns with LinkedIn‘s findings that 92% of leaders in the US and the UK believe people skills are more crucial than ever.
Coursera’s report reveals that the fastest-growing skills of 2023 were in business, particularly those linked with digital marketing and customer experience. In addition to business skills, the report also underscores the growing prominence of leadership skills, with all tracked leadership skills increasing in rank in 2023.
Moussa stresses the importance of organizations recognizing the significance of leadership skills, emphasizing that success depends not only on technical expertise but also on the ability of the workforce to collaborate and navigate a changing world.
Looking ahead to 2024, there is a clear indication that leadership skills will be vital, focusing on empathy, team building, and team management. Moussa highlights the role of HR leaders in shaping learning and development programs, emphasizing the need for skills benchmarking to understand existing competencies. As organizations face talent shortages and attrition crises, personalized learning approaches become essential, and HR leaders play a crucial role in finding the best solutions for individuals and employers alike.
