The Top 5 Trends Every Course Creator Should Know. 🌌

— Rapid prototyping, AI video, and hybrid skills—here’s what matters (and how to use it).

Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes. — Saturday, October 18th, 2025.

Hello again, Morphoicers!

Welcome to this week’s edition of Trending Topics—your shortcut to the shifts shaping online course creation right now.

If you’re a course creator, solopreneur, or membership builder, these updates help you spot opportunities (and landmines) before they reshape your business.

Why this matters

• Spot risks and new plays before they blindside you

• Adjust your pricing, packaging, and distribution with confidence

• Use fresh AI features to cut build time and boost student outcomes

Today’s 10 Biggest Headlines (scan-friendly)

• Oboe launches: AI-powered micro-course app from the ex-Spotify Anchor crew (The Verge)

• Oboe raises ~$4M, announces freemium + subscription tiers (WebProNews)

• Coursera + Banco Santander to deliver 50,000 free “Skills for Work” programs across 13 countries (Santander)

• Coursera CFO Ken Hahn transitions to advisor; search for successor underway (Coursera)

• Udemy tweaks payout mechanics + issues updated GenAI guidelines (Instructor Community)

• Thinkific leans harder into community, AI workflows, and commerce (Thinkific)

• Kajabi unveils its largest product upgrade yet (Yahoo Finanzas)

• A wave of AI “course generator” startups (eSkilled and others) promise radical build-time reductions

• Free AI upskilling courses continue to flood platforms (LinkedIn Learning, Google, Microsoft, Coursera)

• Market commentary shows creator-economy platforms betting big on AI + community-first features (Yahoo Finanzas)

Top 5 Trends to Watch

1. AI-native micro-course platforms (Oboe & peers)

Oboe treats AI not as your assistant but as the author. Expect fast prototyping, snackable content, and a much noisier marketplace.

Your move: Use these tools for idea MVPs, then package into premium, human-led cohorts. Verification and voice are your differentiators.

2. Big-brand partnerships lower barriers (Coursera + Santander)

When 50,000 learners get free job-ready courses, the market tilts. Expect more microcredentials, employer-friendly curricula, and B2B opportunities.

Your move: Align your content with employer language and build demonstrable outputs (projects, case studies) to stay competitive.

3. Platform leadership shake-ups (Coursera CFO exit)

Executive shifts often foreshadow new pricing, revenue share models, or pivots.

Your move: Diversify distribution (your site, marketplaces, partnerships). Keep one eye on press releases, the other on your cash flow.

4. Monetization & policy shifts (Udemy updates)

Disclosure rules for AI content, new payout terms, and inconsistent policies across platforms mean creators need tighter ops.

Your move: Add human-review notes in your courses, standardize your contracts, and build a buffer for payout delays.

5. Platform product upgrades raise expectations (Thinkific, Kajabi)

Community-first tools, AI-assisted workflows, and native monetization are making “basic” courses look outdated fast.

Your move: Experiment with these upgrades to reduce overhead and create more polished learner experiences.

Key Takeaways for Morphoicers

• Use AI micro-course platforms to ideate fast—but layer in your expertise for trust.

• Employer-aligned content is gaining traction; think skills taxonomies, not just “modules.”

• Keep watch on leadership and policy changes—they can ripple into your payouts and positioning.

• Leverage new platform tools to cut costs and keep learners engaged longer.

Until next time, stay sharp, stay adaptable, and keep turning trends into an edge.

— Valentine.
Morphoices | The solopreneur’s favorite AI course creation companion.

P. S. — Not every Deep Dive will be long. Not every one will be short. I’m testing formats until I find the sweet spot. What’s your preference?