Duolingo Embraces AI, Phases Out Contractors for Automation

Photo : Reuters

Duolingo, the well-known language-learning app, is making big changes by focusing on using smart technology to help run its business. In a recent letter shared with the public, Luis von Ahn, the CEO and co-founder of Duolingo, said that the company will stop using outside workers (contractors) for tasks that can be done by technology. This is part of the company's plan to make technology a bigger part of their work.

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Luis von Ahn explained that Duolingo needs to make big changes in how it works. He said, “We can’t just make small changes anymore.” The company will stop using contractors for jobs that smart technology can handle, and it will also start using technology to help with hiring people and checking how well workers are doing their jobs. New workers will only be hired if their job can’t be done with technology.

However, Luis made it clear that the company is not trying to replace workers with technology. Instead, Duolingo wants to remove jobs that take a lot of time and don’t need much thinking. He said, "We want you to focus on creative work and solving real problems, not doing the same thing over and over." The goal is to make work easier, not to take away jobs.

Luis pointed out that making lessons for so many people is hard, and it takes a lot of work. He said, “Without using smart technology, it would take us many years to make enough lessons for everyone who needs them.” By using technology, Duolingo hopes to give people the lessons they need faster.

This change is similar to how Duolingo started focusing on making apps for phones in 2012. That decision helped the company grow a lot, and now they believe focusing on technology will help them grow even more. Luis said, “Focusing on mobile phones was a big decision, and now we are making a similar decision to focus on technology.”

Although Duolingo knows that using technology everywhere will take time, Luis says it’s important to move fast and not wait for things to be perfect. He said, “It’s better to move quickly and fix small problems along the way than to wait too long and miss out.”

Duolingo is also planning to help its workers during this time of change by offering extra training, advice, and new technology tools. The company wants to make sure everyone has the support they need as they move into this new way of working.

In short, Duolingo is changing how it works by using more technology to make things easier and faster. They want to help more people learn languages, and they believe this move will make learning faster and better for everyone. The company also promises to help its workers adjust to the new way of doing things.