New Austin-based lab uses an AI-native model to rapidly prototype and validate next-generation enterprise learning tools
Austin, Texas — May 14, 2026 — OpenSesame, the leader in curated enterprise elearning and workforce development solutions, today announced the launch of its AI Innovation Lab in Austin, Texas, a new initiative designed to accelerate how workforce development solutions are built, tested, and brought to market in the age of AI.
The new lab will bring together experts from OpenSesame, industry partners, and customers to rapidly prototype and validate new tools that help organizations equip employees with the skills needed to work alongside AI. Initial areas of focus include AI-powered personalized learning, intelligent content curation, and new models for how employees discover and apply learning in the flow of work.
At the core of the lab is a cutting-edge AI-native model in which intelligent agents write code and run tests, while human teams focus on product vision, customer insight, and critical decision-making. This technique can take features from idea to beta testing in just three weeks.
The need to move quickly is clear. The World Economic Forum projects that 59% of workers will need to be retrained or upskilled by 2030, as AI takes on a growing share of tasks previously performed by humans.
“We're entering an era of workforce reinvention unlike anything we’ve seen before, and it’s incredibly exciting,” said Don Spear, CEO and Co-Founder of OpenSesame. “Employees are moving from executing tasks to working alongside and overseeing AI agents, a shift that can eliminate manual work and refocus teams on what drives real business impact. But that transition doesn’t happen automatically. It requires new skills and new kinds of support. The AI Innovation Lab is how we help organizations build the skills and systems to make it real.”
As part of this investment, OpenSesame is expanding its presence in Austin and hiring several roles across product, engineering, and AI.
The company is also inviting executives, learning leaders, and industry partners to visit the lab and collaborate directly. Participants will experience AI-native product development firsthand, share real-world workforce challenges, and help shape solutions in real time.
“The biggest risk in product development is not building the wrong thing, it’s moving too slowly to learn,” said Josh Blank, President, Chief Product Officer, and Co-Founder of OpenSesame. “Our model lets us compress the distance between an idea and real customer feedback from months to days. We are not guessing what businesses need, we are putting working software in their hands and using real-world feedback to shape what comes next.”
The launch marks a broader evolution for OpenSesame, from a leader in enterprise learning content to a company actively shaping how workforce development solutions are designed and delivered. By combining technology, curated content, and human expertise, OpenSesame helps organizations build skills responsibly and at scale in a rapidly changing environment.
About OpenSesame
OpenSesame helps develop the world's most productive and admired workforces. With the most comprehensive catalog of curated elearning courses from over 150 of the world's top publishers, spanning 70+ languages and serving organizations across every industry, OpenSesame makes it simple to find, deliver, and manage training at scale. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, OpenSesame serves thousands of organizations globally. For more information, visit www.opensesame.com.
Media Contact:
Cristina Pugliese for OpenSesame
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