Duolingo to replace contractor roles with AI; adopts "AI-first" strategy

Duolingo, the language learning app, will phase out contractor roles for tasks that artificial intelligence can handle, according to a recent internal email from cofounder and CEO Luis von Ahn announcing the company's shift to an "AI-first" approach. The message, posted on Duolingo's LinkedIn account, outlines plans to restructure operations around AI capabilities.

"We'll gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle," von Ahn wrote, adding that future hiring and employee evaluations will consider AI proficiency. The CEO framed the move as necessary for scaling language education, stating: "Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content to more learners."

In the email, von Ahn compared the transition to Duolingo's early bet on mobile technology, which he credited for the company's growth. "When there's a shift this big, the worst thing you can do is wait," he wrote, acknowledging that implementation won't be immediate: "We're not going to rebuild everything overnight."  

The email specifies that new positions will only be approved if teams demonstrate they cannot automate more work. However, von Ahn emphasised this doesn't signal workforce reduction: "This isn't about replacing Duos with AI. It's about removing bottlenecks so we can do more with the outstanding Duos we already have."  

AI is already being used to accelerate content creation and develop new features like 'Video Call' tutoring. The CEO stated these capabilities bring Duolingo closer to its educational mission: "For the first time ever, teaching as well as the best human tutors is within our reach."  

Employees will receive AI training and tools as part of the transition. "We want you to focus on creative work and real problems, not repetitive tasks," von Ahn wrote, while acknowledging: "Change can be scary."