Duolingo embraces AI, cuts contractors

PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES — Language learning app Duolingo has replaced around 10% of its contractors with artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
“We just no longer need as many people to do the type of work some of these contractors were doing. Part of that could be attributed to AI,” the company’s spokesperson said.
CEO Luis von Ahn highlighted in a recent earnings call that AI has improved personalization and user engagement across Duolingo’s products.
“We’re using generative AI to speed up our script writing for Duolingo Stories and to more efficiently scale our course content,” he stated.
While full-time staff remain unaffected by the changes, the decision brought mixed reactions. In a now-deleted Reddit post, a former contractor expressed disappointment as many of those let go were involved in translations, an area where AI efficiency has reduced manual workloads.
This shift aligns with the broader industry adoption of AI to streamline operations. However, it has also stirred debate regarding technological impacts on employment. A recent survey showed that 42% of U.S. workers feel apprehensive about AI affecting their jobs.
The rapid development of generative AI technologies has sparked debate about their potential impact on the job market.
Goldman Sachs predicts AI advancements could jeopardize 300 million jobs globally due to automation.
An April 2023 report by the World Economic Forum estimated that AI could cause significant labor-market disruption globally over the next five years, though the net impact may be positive as employers seek workers with more technical skills.
At the same time, tech billionaire Elon Musk says AI will end the need for jobs, but many believe human labor will still be necessary for many roles.
McKinsey & Company forecasts generative AI could add up to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy by 2040.