As artificial intelligence reshapes nearly every profession, DataCamp is making a bold move to close the AI skills gap—starting in the classroom. The data and AI upskilling platform announced it will provide free access to its entire learning platform for one million teachers and students worldwide in 2026, through its DataCamp Classrooms program.
The initiative arrives at a moment when educators are under pressure to prepare students for an AI-driven workforce, often without the tools or training to do so. DataCamp’s own research highlights the urgency: 53% of teachers believe their schools are not adequately preparing students for AI’s impact on their future careers.
From Coding Skills to AI Literacy
Eligible teachers and students will gain free access to DataCamp’s full catalog, covering both practical technical skills and broader AI literacy. That includes hands-on training in Python, SQL, Power BI, and other data tools, as well as foundational courses in AI ethics, responsible AI use, and data literacy.
The focus goes beyond teaching students how to code. DataCamp is positioning the program as a way to help schools teach how AI works, how it should be used responsibly, and how it fits into real-world problem-solving—skills increasingly demanded by employers across industries.
“AI literacy is now essential for participation in the modern workforce,” said Jonathan Cornelissen, co-founder and CEO of DataCamp. “Students know AI will shape their futures, but many schools lack the resources and training needed to keep pace.”
Educators Feel the Gap—and the Pressure
The announcement reflects a growing disconnect between how fast AI is advancing and how slowly many education systems can adapt. Teachers cite outdated curricula, limited professional development, and uncertainty around responsible AI use as major barriers.
That gap has real consequences. As generative AI tools move from novelty to necessity, students without early exposure risk falling behind before they even enter the workforce. DataCamp’s move suggests that AI education is becoming less of an elective and more of a baseline requirement.
Expanding Access Through Partnerships
To broaden its reach, DataCamp is also expanding its partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation, which runs AI Bootcamps for high school students and teachers across the U.S. Within the program, students use DataCamp to experiment with real-world AI tools—including hands-on exposure to technologies like ChatGPT.
The goal is to help teens move from passive AI users to active creators—building projects, solving problems, and developing early entrepreneurial thinking.
“Students know that AI is the future, but schools and teachers face constraints that make AI education difficult to implement,” said Charlotte Dungan, Chief Learning Officer at the Mark Cuban Foundation. “When young people get the right tools, they transform their own futures.”
A Strategic Bet on the Future Workforce
For DataCamp, the initiative is more than philanthropy—it’s a strategic investment in the next generation of data and AI talent. As companies across sectors scramble for AI-literate workers, platforms that shape early learning ecosystems stand to influence how those skills are developed and standardized.
The move also reflects a broader trend in edtech: shifting from niche technical training to mass AI literacy, much like computer literacy initiatives of the early internet era. The difference now is speed—AI adoption is moving far faster than most school systems can update curricula.
The Bigger Picture
By pledging to upskill one million educators and students for free, DataCamp is making a statement: AI readiness shouldn’t depend on geography or school budgets. Whether the program becomes a model for other edtech players—or exposes how unprepared many systems remain—will become clearer in 2026.
What’s certain is this: in an AI-driven economy, the race to educate starts earlier than ever, and DataCamp wants to be at the front of that classroom.
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