US EditionWhat's The Duolingo 'AI-First' Controversy? The CEO's Pro-AI Message And The Online Backlash Explained
- Duolingo's CEO Luis von Ahn announced in early May 2025 that the company is adopting an AI-first strategy, replacing contractors with AI.
- This change follows prior layoffs where Duolingo cut about 10% of its contractors, mostly translators and writers, starting at the end of 2023.
- The shift aims to scale content creation globally and speed course production, with AI generating translations, vocabulary, cultural tips, and user-specific lessons.
- A viral TikTok video sparked widespread backlash from users and contractors, who criticized the AI approach and led to significant negative social media reactions.
- Experts view Duolingo's move as part of a broader tech industry trend toward reducing human roles for efficiency, raising concerns about creative job losses and labor cost cuts.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Duolingo swaps humans for AI
Duolingo, your friendly owl-powered language app, just made a significant change, and people are not thrilled. In a memo to its employees, CEO Luis von Ahn stated that the company is officially going “AI-First.” This means that internal systems are changing, with a heavy lean toward AI tools and, yes, replacing human contractors where AI can do the job faster and easier. It’s an unprecedented… Source
Over the past 30 years, the global economy has been built around the internet, with the human being as its center, essential for its growth thanks to its ideas and creativity. However, this scenario could begin to change very soon, as there are not a few companies that start using artificial generative intelligence to replace human beings. The most recent case is Duolingo’s, the popular application for language learning. Almost silently, as if i…
The innocent language learning app that everyone has ever downloaded — and abandoned — in their lives is at the heart of the controversy. Duolingo’s latest stance with his staff and artificial intelligence has not only caused a lot of layoffs around the world, but also a flood of social media criticism of the company’s new dynamics. For those who don’t know it yet, the company that helps you to know new languages from your mobile phone has marke…
Duolingo Under Fire After 'AI-First' Announcement
Duolingo has just announced a major strategic shift — it’s going all-in on artificial intelligence. The language learning app has rolled out 148 new language courses, more than doubling its previous offerings. This includes a big boost to Japanese learning, now available in all 28 of Duolingo’s interface languages. Needless to say, the move has […] The post Duolingo Under Fire After ‘AI-First’ Announcement — What This Means For You appeared firs…
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