As I’ve mentioned in numerous Q&As and meetings, I want to make it clear: Duolingo is adopting an AI-first approach.
AI is transforming the way we work, and it’s no longer a question of if it will happen; it is happening right now. In times of significant change, the last thing we can do is hesitate. In 2012, we made a pivotal choice to commit to mobile technology. While others focused on mobile extensions of existing web apps, we prioritized building a mobile-first platform because we recognized it as the future. This decision led us to win the 2013 iPhone App of the Year and sparked substantial organic growth through word-of-mouth.
Our investment in mobile made a significant impact, and we are making a similar commitment now as we embrace the shift toward AI.
AI isn’t just a tool for increasing productivity. It brings us closer to our goal of effective teaching. To educate effectively, we need to generate a vast amount of content, and doing it manually isn’t sustainable. One of our smartest recent moves was to replace our slow, manual content creation process with AI-driven solutions. Without AI, scaling our content delivery to reach more learners would take us decades. We owe it to our learners to provide this content as quickly as possible.
AI also enables us to develop features like Video Call that were previously unattainable. For the first time, we have the potential to deliver teaching quality comparable to the best human tutors.
Embracing an AI-first approach means we need to rethink many aspects of our operations. Simply tweaking existing systems designed for humans won’t suffice. In many instances, we’ll need to rebuild from the ground up. While we won’t revamp everything overnight, and certain challenges—such as integrating AI with our existing codebase—will require time, we cannot afford to wait until the technology is flawless. We prefer to act with urgency and accept occasional dips in quality rather than proceed slowly and risk missing crucial opportunities.
To facilitate this transition, we will implement several constructive measures:
- We will gradually phase out contractors for tasks AI can handle.
- AI capabilities will be considered in hiring decisions.
- AI implementation will be integrated into performance evaluations.
- New headcount will be granted only if teams are unable to automate much of their work.
- Most departments will initiate specific projects to fundamentally rework their processes.
That said, Duolingo remains committed to valuing its employees. This initiative isn’t about replacing our talented team members with AI. It’s about eliminating obstacles so our current Duos can accomplish more. We want you to concentrate on creative endeavors and solving real challenges, not on repetitive tasks. We will invest in your growth with additional training, mentorship, and tools to effectively utilize AI in your roles.
Change can be daunting, but I firmly believe this is a significant step forward for Duolingo. It will enhance our ability to fulfill our mission, and for our Duos, it ensures we stay at the forefront of leveraging this technology to achieve our goals.
–Luis
