{"id":"0c421ad77b2a0309b5df2f874a8017e33f9803f564a247a4de673903e4181002","title":"Ananya Bhattacharya argues in Rest of World that edtech is shifting toward workforce learning","argument":"Ananya Bhattacharya’s article, published April 23, 2026, argues that the pandemic’s biggest bet on online learning has gone bust. Citing Tracxn, she reports that global edtech investment peaked at $16.7 billion in 2021 and fell to less than $3 billion by 2025; startup launches also dropped sharply. She links the downturn to investors’ turn toward AI tools and training platforms that help companies hire, cut costs, and teach workers new skills.\n\nBhattacharya describes the difficulties facing for-profit startups: standing apart from rivals, weak unit economics, high customer acquisition costs, long institutional sales cycles, and low retention amid unclear learning outcomes. 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