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Duolingo ditches more contractors in 'AI-first' refocus

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn announced on April 28, 2025, that the Pittsburgh-based company will transition to an AI-first strategy by reducing contractors and integrating AI deeper into workflows.
This shift follows last year’s layoffs of nearly 10% of contractors after adopting AI for content creation and translation, aiming to automate repetitive tasks and rethink company systems fundamentally.
Von Ahn emphasized the importance of acting quickly even if it means accepting minor reductions in quality, stating that moving deliberately and missing the opportunity would be worse. He also clarified that AI is intended to eliminate workflow bottlenecks rather than replace employees.
Duolingo plans to use AI in hiring, performance reviews, and specific initiatives, requiring teams to prove automation limits before hiring and supporting employees with AI training and tooling.
The transition implies a significant rethinking of operations beyond productivity gains, as von Ahn compared AI's impact to Duolingo’s 2012 mobile-first bet crucial for platform growth and future teaching capabilities.

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Morning Brew Daily

Daily Business and News podcast featuring Toby Howell, Neal Freyman and Scott Rogowsky from The Morning Brew.

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Daily Business and News podcast featuring Toby Howell, Neal Freyman and Scott Rogowsky from The Morning Brew.

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