TCS, Pearson Move to Close Gap Between AI Spend and Results

The alliance combines learning tools and enterprise tech to integrate training directly into work processes.

MIT SMR Editors March 19, 2026

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UK-based learning and assessment company Pearson Plc and India’s largest IT services provider Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) have signed a multi-year agreement to help enterprises use artificial intelligence to improve workforce productivity, as businesses look to turn AI spending into measurable outcomes.

The partnership combines Pearson’s learning and assessment tools with TCS’s enterprise technology and its iON platform, aiming to integrate training into day-to-day work and identify skills gaps using AI.

“By bringing learning into the flow of work, we can help organizations build skills faster and use AI to solve business challenges while improving productivity,” Pearson Chief Executive Officer Omar Abbosh said.

For TCS, the deal reflects a broader shift in enterprise AI adoption, where the focus is moving from deploying technology to preparing employees to use it effectively.

“The future belongs to enterprises that continuously build skills and adaptability into their operating models,” TCS Chief Executive Officer K. Krithivasan said.

The companies said they will work on integrating learning and skills intelligence into enterprise workflows, co-developing AI-led learning products, and strengthening early-career readiness.

As part of the agreement, TCS will use Pearson’s Versant English Test in hiring and workforce development programs.

The partnership will also expand Pearson’s integration with TCS iON, creating what the companies describe as an end-to-end system for skill benchmarking, certification and workforce development across enterprises and governments.

The timing reflects a broader urgency around upskilling. According to Pearson’s research, enabling workers to collaborate with AI, rather than replacing them, could add between $4.8 trillion and $6.6 trillion to the US economy by 2034.

The deal also aligns with Pearson’s strategy of building “360-degree” partnerships to drive joint go-to-market initiatives and long-term growth, as enterprises increasingly seek to turn AI ambition into productivity gains.