Udemy Report Highlights Soaring Demand for AI Skills in India

New Delhi, Oct 3, 2025 — Reskilling platform Udemy has released its 2026 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report, spotlighting the rapid rise of AI-driven learning among professionals in India.

Based on data from more than 17,000 enterprise customers, the report identifies AI fluency, adaptability, and integration as defining skills for the future of work.

The findings show a staggering 1,526% surge in Prompt Engineering skills among Udemy learners in India, making it the fastest-growing upskilling category in the country.

Vector Databases also saw an 89% increase, underscoring the growing demand for generative AI and scalable data infrastructure. Microsoft data reinforces the trend, noting that 59% of Indian organizations are already using AI agents to automate workflows.

“In 2026, AI fluency and adaptive skills are no longer nice-to-haves. They’re essential for every organisation to stay competitive,” said Hugo Sarrazin, president and CEO of Udemy. “But AI fluency alone isn’t enough. Our data shows winning organisations are those investing just as much in leadership, adaptability, and human judgment.”

The report highlights a surge in technical specialisations such as Pytest (980%), Microsoft Playwright (217%), and System Design Interview (145%). These trends reflect India’s focus on integration, automation, and system reliability as AI becomes embedded in daily operations.

At the same time, soft skills are gaining importance. Demand for Risk Management (90%) and Relationship Building (90%) underscores the need for professionals to balance technical expertise with leadership, communication, and ethical judgment in AI-driven workplaces.

“AI fluency will be the new standard in 2026. It isn’t enough to have a basic understanding of technical skills anymore. True fluency comes with a holistic and in-depth understanding of AI’s capabilities, emerging applications, risks, and limitations. Most roles require using AI every day and as such, professionals need proactive skills development for AI readiness so it can be used fluidly in daily use cases,” said Vinay Pradhan, Country Manager & Senior Director Sales, India, Udemy.

Globally, Udemy identifies four priorities for 2026: AI fluency, learning in the flow of work, scaling leadership and ethics, and adaptive skills for long-term resilience.

“Change is a constant in the world of work, but what’s more unpredictable are barriers, the impact of uncertainty, and whether or not we are agile enough to withstand them. By prioritising business outcomes, professionals’ goals, and company-wide best practices, we’re developing the skills our teams need today and tomorrow to thrive in the AI era,” Paul Kent, Senior Learning and Development Manager, PepsiCo, said.