Language-learning platform Duolingo has announced a significant shift in its workforce strategy, revealing plans to replace many of its contract workers with artificial intelligence (AI).
In a company-wide memo shared earlier this week, CEO and co-founder Luis von Ahn reaffirmed Duolingo’s commitment to becoming an “AI-first” organisation. He emphasised the need to rethink workflows entirely, stating that “minor tweaks to systems designed for humans won’t get us there.”
The announcement signals a broader move away from human contractors as the company begins transitioning tasks traditionally handled by people to AI systems. “We’ll gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle,” von Ahn explained in the memo, which was also posted on the company’s LinkedIn page.
Duolingo’s decision reflects a growing trend among tech companies adopting AI to streamline operations, though not without controversy. A recent study from Carnegie Mellon University cautioned that businesses relying solely on AI agents had only a 24% success rate.
Von Ahn acknowledged the transformative impact of AI on the modern workplace, adding, “It’s not a question of if or when. It’s happening now.”
DUOLINGO DOUBLES DOWN ON AI; CEO CALLS IT ‘NEXT BIG PLATFORM SHIFT’
Duolingo is accelerating its transition to artificial intelligence, with CEO Luis von Ahn likening the shift to the company’s early move into mobile—a decision that earned Duolingo the title of Apple’s iPhone App of the Year in 2013.
“In 2012, we bet on mobile… betting on mobile made all the difference,” von Ahn said in a company memo. “We’re making a similar call now, and this time the platform shift is AI.”
The language learning company is adopting an “AI-first” strategy that will lead to major operational changes. Duolingo plans to eliminate contract roles that can be automated, prioritise hiring staff with AI expertise, and integrate AI usage into performance evaluations. New hires will only be made if a team is unable to automate more of its work, according to the CEO. He also mentioned that many departments would undergo fundamental restructuring through targeted AI initiatives.
Despite the sweeping changes, von Ahn reassured employees that the company remains committed to its workforce, stating, “Duolingo will remain a company that cares deeply about its employees.”
The company’s bold approach comes amid growing debate over the capabilities and limitations of AI in the workplace. While some tech leaders, like Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, argue that AI can already replace most human jobs, recent research paints a different picture.
A Carnegie Mellon University study tested AI’s ability to run a mock software startup and found that the agents completed only 24% of tasks successfully, suggesting that full AI autonomy is still far from viable.
Nonetheless, Duolingo appears committed to its course, even as evidence mounts that an all-in AI strategy may require caution and careful implementation.
