Pearson's sales growth accelerates to 5% as it increases 'AI capabilities'

Pearson’s sales growth accelerated to 5% for the third quarter and nine months ended 30th September 2024, from the equivalent period in 2023.

In Assessment & Qualifications, sales growth accelerated in Q3 to 6%, while the business unit was up 3% for the nine-month period.

Omar Abbosh, Pearson’s chief executive, said: "Pearson is delivering on the three priorities for 2024 that I identified at the start of the year. First, our focus on operational and financial performance has driven growth across all divisions this quarter and we are on track to meet full-year expectations."

The publisher is also growing its "AI capabilities" and has started to "see the commercial benefit". 

Pearson has scaled AI across its products and services, with double-digit year-over-year billings growth in Higher Education products including AI study tools like English Language Learning Teaching Pal, which creates "customised" lesson content and activities.

Abbosh said that the academic publisher is "accelerating our AI capabilities across the business and starting to see the commercial benefit".