The Read

Evidence over adjectives. Analysis of education technology and the future of work in this region, with every figure sourced.

The ReadSeptember 1, 2026

The Gigawatt and the Classroom

Saudi Arabia committed billions to AI infrastructure at LEAP this week. The Kingdom's own budget shows education spending has not grown since 2024. Both numbers are correct, and the gap between them is where the work is.

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Instrument plate showing 33.6% mounted on a dimension line, with a declining revenue trace running beneath it

The Read7 min

Nerdy Just Told You Consumer Tutoring Does Not Scale

Nerdy spent 33.6% of revenue on sales and marketing in 2025, the lowest ratio in its history, on revenue that had fallen for two straight years. It has never had a profitable year, and it has just walked out of the school market.

May 20, 2026

Instrument plate showing the figure 2.73 rupees mounted on a dimension line, with a single rupee marked at the opposite end of the same line

The Read6 min

Byju's Spent ₹2.73 to Earn One Rupee — in the Year It Was Worth $22 Billion

The audited accounts for the financial year in which Byju's was marked at $22 billion show total expenses of ₹13,668 crore against operating revenue of ₹5,015 crore. Nobody outside the company saw them for two years, because the auditor resigned first.

May 13, 2026