A week after declaring that AI would eventually replace contract workers at the language-learning app, Duolingo’s CEO said the company was “continuing to hire” and would support its existing workers in getting up to speed on the technology.
It follows buzzy startup Klarna in backing off an AI-first promise.
Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO, took to LinkedIn on Thursday to walk back a previous stance pushing AI use over human employees.
If you really want to learn a new language, you don’t even need Duolingo. AI can do it alone. You have a teacher with infinite patience and infinite time. I’ve recently taken to conversing with AI in the language I want to learn and it will instantly help correct my grammar while also carrying the conversation forward. Duolingo, as you say, would just drill me repeatedly on how to say nonsense like “I am a penguin” or “Green tea and coffee.”