A new survey from Udacity shows that a majority of professionals are seriously worried about losing their jobs to artificial intelligence. In fact, 61 percent think their current role could be taken over by AI within the next three to five years. It does not stop there. Around 63 percent believe their entire team might be replaced too.
Udacity clearly sees an opportunity in that fear. You see, the company has launched a new set of training programs designed to help people survive in what it calls the agentic AI economy. Whether you are a software engineer, a team leader, or someone without any technical background, Udacity wants to teach you how to stay relevant by working alongside or even building AI agents.
For those in tech roles, there is a new Agentic AI Engineering Nanodegree. It includes hands-on instruction in building agents, designing multi-agent systems, and writing prompts that can steer large language models in complex workflows. It does not tie itself to any single framework, which could make it more adaptable as the technology shifts.
Business leaders can enroll in a separate nanodegree focused on the strategic side of things. Topics include evaluating AI agent solutions, understanding the value they bring to organizations, and managing the risks involved. It also covers how to plan and execute AI adoption within companies that may be wary of big changes.
Then there is the course designed for people in non-technical jobs. This one focuses on fluency rather than engineering. The goal is to help professionals work more effectively with AI agents in their daily tasks. It includes instruction on how agents actually function and shows students how to build their own tools using no-code platforms. That part really caught my eye. I might try one of these courses myself to see how practical they really are.
The instructors come from real industry backgrounds, not just academia. Some have built AI systems at major tech firms like Salesforce, Hubspot, Dell, and Intuit. So these courses are being marketed as practical, not theoretical.
Udacity shared the survey data directly with NERDS.xyz. According to the company, it polled 2,500 white-collar workers across the United States. While the full dataset has not been published, the topline results paint a clear picture of anxiety around AI. And it is not just limited to developers or entry-level roles. The concern stretches across all departments and seniority levels.
That anxiety is the engine driving Udacity’s new offerings. And the company is not shy about it. While 94 percent of workers say they want to learn AI skills, research from Accenture suggests only five percent of employers are actually offering training at scale. So Udacity is stepping in to fill that gap.
The pitch is simple. If your job is under threat, learning about agentic AI might help you keep it. Or at least delay the inevitable.
Still, I have to admit the idea of trying one is tempting. Especially the no-code course. If I do give it a go, I will be sure to share my experience here.
