In late April, language-learning app Duolingo made a series of AI-related announcements. CEO Luis von Ahn wrote a memo to employees detailing the company’s official “AI-first” approach and how, through “advances in generative AI,” it was able to double its course offerings in record time. Duolingo also said it would “gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle.”
Naturally, the news didn’t go over well with some Duolingo employees and contract workers. After several weeks of pushback, von Ahn has clarified his previous comments (while still committing to being “AI-first”) with a post on LinkedIn.
Related: ‘Make Chess as Accessible as Possible’: Duolingo’s Next Move Is Teaching Users