In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Patrick Supanc, Chief Product Officer at Coursera, joins host Boaz Ashkenazy for an in-depth conversation on how AI is transforming education, workforce skills, and lifelong learning at a global scale.

Patrick shares his deeply personal and unconventional journey—from growing up as the son of two educators and immigrating to the U.S., to working in public policy at the World Bank, having a formative experience in a rural classroom in Brazil, and ultimately transitioning into education technology.

The conversation dives into how baseline AI literacy is rapidly becoming essential for everyone, not just technologists. Patrick explains how learner demand on Coursera has surged, with AI enrollments accelerating and shifting from introductory content toward more advanced topics like agentic AI, orchestration, and role-specific application of AI tools.

Boaz and Patrick explore how large language models are being integrated directly into learning experiences through Coursera Coach—an AI-powered tutor designed to deliver personalized, efficient, and high-integrity learning. Patrick outlines why memory, contextual relevance, fast feedback loops, and verified assessments are critical for adult learners who need to upskill quickly while balancing real-world constraints.

Finally, the episode looks ahead to the future of education and work, touching on global access, AI-powered translation and dubbing, voice-based interaction, role-play simulations, and the potential role of avatars. Patrick closes by framing the future as “skills-first and accessible,” underscoring Coursera’s mission to ensure that verified, job-relevant skills are available to learners everywhere.

This episode is essential listening for founders, operators, educators, and professionals who want to understand how AI is reshaping not just productivity, but the entire learning and workforce ecosystem.

Chapters

[00:00] From Educators to EdTech: Patrick’s Journey to Coursera

[04:24] AI Literacy as the New Baseline Skill

[07:18] The Rapid Rise of AI Learning Demand on Coursera

[08:17] From Intro to Agentic AI: How Learner Needs Are Evolving

[11:22] Tracking Skills at Scale with Coursera’s Career Graph

[14:31] Coursera Coach: AI Tutors, Personalization, and Memory

[17:32] Learning by Doing: Role Play, Labs, and Real-World Practice

[19:41] Anxiety, Relevance, and the Need for Continuous Upskilling

[21:31] Helping Learners Navigate an Uncertain Career Future

[24:31] Global Access: Translation, Dubbing, and Emerging Markets

[26:21] Voice, Avatars, and New Interaction Models in Learning

[28:49] Andrew Ng’s Influence on Coursera and AI in Education

[30:26] The Future of Work and Learning: Skills-First and Accessible

Connect with Patrick Supanc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricksupanc/

Connect with Boaz Ashkenazy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy/

Email: [email protected]