About a month ago, when OpenAI announced that ChatGPT could interact directly with third-party apps like Coursera, Spotify, and Booking.com, it hinted that collaboration between different apps would be the future of AI. In subsequent weeks we have seen this take off, especially with Coursera, an educational platform now integrated within ChatGPIT.

To understand what this integration means for the future of education and AI, India Today Tech spoke to Greg Hart, CEO, Coursera. As a former Amazon executive who helped build Alexa, Hart’s inputs offer a front-row view of how large language models (LLMs) are reshaping education, not as competitors to online learning, but as useful allies.

AI and the future of learning

Hart says the idea behind Coursera’s integration with ChatGPIT comes from recognizing how people already use AI to learn. The company has seen an increase in the number of people learning globally through ChatGPTT and other LLMs. According to a report by the Digital Education Council, a global organization focused on digital learning, around 86 percent of students in schools and higher education nowadays use AI, and 66 percent of them use ChatGPAT.

For Coursera, this makes ChatGPT a platform where it wants to make its presence felt. The partnership, enabled by OpenAI’s new app SDK, now allows users to ask ChatGPT, for example, “Can I learn data analytics on Coursera?” And get a preview of relevant courses instantly. It is complete with feedback videos, course descriptions, and a link to direct enrollment on Coursera.

However, for Coursera, which already has over 31 million learners in India, it is less about expanding reach and more about embedding advanced learning into existing tools.

“This is a great way to bring what Coursera does right into the flow of the ChatGPIT experience,” says Hart.

A taste of learning, not the entire curriculum

While ChatGPT is trying to bring more features with its cross-app integration, it’s important to note that the Coursera integration is not a full coursework – it’s a window. “ChatGPT is an opportunity to really get a taste of the curriculum,” explains Hart. “You can preview a video from the first module and explore course details. But the real learning still happens on Coursera.

Integration acts more as a bridge. Users discover, sample, and then migrate to the platform for the complete learning experience. This way, Coursera can ensure that users come to its platform for further exploration and perhaps even subscribe to courses.

Similarly, other platforms like Booking also provide quick flight and hotel recommendations on ChatGPT, but to actually book these options, they redirect users to the main site.

This is in line with OpenAI’s approach to app partnerships and could also be a way to monetize services on its platform in the future. Plus, with these integrations, ChatGPT becomes the hub of discovery for these apps, helping users move seamlessly from conversations to actual services.

going beyond integration

Long before this collaboration, Hart says Coursera had begun using AI to personalize learning. An example of this is the role play feature.

“We have role play that we recently launched, which is really a way to take AI-powered interactions to the next level and apply what you just learned in a practical way,” says Hart.

The CEO highlighted that these tools are not designed to replace instructors, but to make education more responsive and accessible. While other educational platforms also offer personalized courses and coaching, Coursera’s early integration into ChatGPT gives it a slight edge.

See also

Tech Hub

Apple launches iPad Air with M4 chip, price starts at Rs 64,900

Not changing classes, but enhancing

The trend of online learning has changed in the last few years, especially after the Covid pandemic. Globally, 49 percent of students have completed some type of online course, Devlinpeck reports. Not only this, the sector has grown by more than 900 percent since its inception in 2000.

Asked whether AI might one day replace physical classrooms, Hart is cautious. He calls technology a complement, not a substitute. “Online learning is a great way to expand physical learning space,” he adds.

He explains that this hybrid approach is particularly helpful for countries like India, where demand for higher education must match the number of physical universities and teachers. “India can’t build physical universities and hire professors, teachers in them fast enough to meet the demographics of India and the number of people entering college age. And so they have to focus on online learning,” says Hart.

This trend is likely to accelerate in the future thanks to AI. Or so Hart believes. He hopes that more LLMs will adopt the app framework implemented by OpenAI. “What OpenAI is doing is a natural evolution of the LLM experience. I hope others will follow suit. Over time, ChatGPT will become more contextually aware and recommend the right app or partner for each scenario,” he says.

AI learning is growing big in India

And when that happens, India could be one of the key markets for companies like Coursera. Like it already is. Already, India has one of the most active learning communities on Coursera. Not only this, India is the largest user base for ChatGPAT, with approximately 800 million weekly active users by 2025, which is another reason why these companies are racing to make the most of what OpenAI has to offer. When asked about India’s potential to become the next big AI-hub, Hart was optimistic.

He says, “India is our second largest market after the US. We have 31 million learners in India, so there is already great adoption within the country because of the incredible need for upskilling and reskilling.”

Education related to AI in particular is growing rapidly. A report by a business research company suggests that the global online learning market is expected to grow by 41.1 percent between 2025 and 2029. Worldwide, there are 14 enrollments per minute in AI courses. Of these, three come from India.