How AI Is Challenging the Credibility of Online Courses Today

Online learning has become a huge part of education. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare, and even university LMS systems have helped millions of people learn new skills from home. According to recent reports, the global e-learning industry is worth over $315 billion in 2024 and it’s still growing fast.

But here’s the twist. Artificial Intelligence is now changing the game and not always for the better.

While AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude make learning easier, they are also challenging the authenticity of many online courses. The question is no longer “Can you learn online?” but “How do we trust what someone has learned?”

The Rise of AI Generated Coursework

One of the biggest issues is that students can now:

• Write assignments
• Generate code
• Solve quizzes
• Complete full courses

Without actually learning anything.

A study from an online education survey showed:

• 54% of students have used AI tools to finish assignments

• 35% admitted they completed entire online tasks using AI

• 22% even used AI during proctored online exams

For Example: A person taking a coding course can ask AI to write all their programs. They’ll pass the course but don’t know how to actually code.

This means a certificate no longer guarantees real skills.

The Certification Problem

Online certificates used to be proof of your knowledge. Today, employers are becoming more skeptical.

Why? Because:

• Many online exams are not monitored

• AI can auto generate correct answers instantly

• Plagiarism detection tools are not trained to catch AI content

A hiring manager recently shared that nearly 40% of applicants with “AI/ML certificates” fail basic skill tests raising questions about the real value of these credentials.

AI Courses Made By AI?

This is another concern: People are now creating entire courses using AI with little real expertise behind them.

Platforms are seeing:

• Repeated, shallow content

• Fake case studies

• Low quality explanations

• Copy pasted lessons from the internet

Many students enroll, only to realize the instructor themselves probably learned from Google + ChatGPT.

Good Side of AI (Because It’s Not All Negative)

Let’s be fair AI isn’t the villain here.

AI can help learners:

1. Understand difficult concepts
2. Translate lessons for global audiences
3. Improve writing, coding, and accuracy
4. Practice real world scenarios
5. Learn faster and with less frustration

But the real challenge is balance using AI to learn, not to cheat your learning journey.

How E-Learning Platforms Are Responding

Some solutions already being tested:

• AI-plagiarism checkers to detect generated content

• Skill based exams instead of multiple choice tests

• Live interview assessments for certification

• Project-based learning that requires personal creativity

This new approach checks what students can actually do, not what AI can do for them.

The Future: Skills > Certificates

As AI continues to grow, the education world is shifting:

• Employers care less about certificates

• More companies use practical tests during hiring

• Experience and personal projects matter more

In simple words,

Certificates may open the door, but your real skills decide how far you go.

So instead of letting AI finish your course. Use AI as a teacher, not a shortcut.

That’s how you will truly grow.

Conclusion Human Learning Still Matters

AI is powerful, but education is about understanding, creativity, and thinking things humans still do best. Online learning remains a great opportunity, but students and e-learning platforms must work together to:

• Keep learning authentic
• Maintain trust in online education
• Use AI responsibly

Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to get a certificate. It’s to become capable and confident in real life.

AI FOR ALL BACKGROUNDS

In Pakistan, tech educator Zafar Iqbal is also teaching an “AI for All Backgrounds” course, helping beginners learn AI skills regardless of their field or education level.

AI FOR ALL BACKGROUNDS: LEARN AI/ML

FAQs: AI Challenges Online Learning Credibility

Q1: Is AI cheating ruining online learning?

Not exactly the problem isn’t AI itself but how students misuse it. When used correctly, AI can support learning, not replace it.

Q2: Do employers still trust online certificates?

Yes, but with caution. Many companies now test skills practically because certificates alone no longer guarantee real knowledge.

Q3: How can I prove my skills if I learn online?

Create real projects, build a portfolio, practice solving real problems, and share your work publicly. That proves learning much better than a certificate.