Duolingo Goes AI: How Neural Networks Are Changing the Work of the Educational Platform

Duolingo has announced a strategic shift to AI technologies, which will entail a reduction in a number of external contracts. In a message to employees, the platform’s founder and CEO Luis von Ahn noted that the organization will gradually abandon the services of contractors for tasks that can now be performed by algorithms.

The management compares the current changes with the company’s transition to mobile technologies in 2012, which at the time became a driver of business growth. Now a similar systematic approach will be used for AI integration: employees are required to use neural network tools, and this criterion will be taken into account when monitoring their effectiveness.

The company emphasizes that this is not about a full-fledged replacement of human labor. The main goal of the reorganization is the redistribution of resources to free up specialists’ time to solve complex problems that require creativity and expert assessment. The company plans to provide support to the team through training in interaction with AI, a mentoring program, and the provision of fresh digital tools.

This trend is echoed by other tech companies. Shopify, for example, recently introduced a rule requiring workers to justify the inability of artificial intelligence to replace necessary positions. Industry experts believe that such initiatives are a response to the increasing demands for speed and scalability of digital services.