Just three months ago, the language learning platform with over 100 million users emphasized having to “move with urgency,” outlining a grand plan to achieve the goal of being an “AI-first” company.
The strategy included a gradual reduction in contractors to “do work that AI can handle,” and increasing headcount only if “a team cannot automate more of their work.” Von Ahn insisted that the AI-first memo did not draw scrutiny from Duolingo staffers—but that onlookers were quick to take up arms online.
The tech CEO also added that this change is nothing new: “From the beginning, we’ve had contractors that we use for temporary tasks, and our contractor force has gone up and down depending on needs.”
Von Ahn added that said work will likely change in the next five years because of AI—but again that that doesn’t mean staff cuts at Duolingo.
“What will probably happen is that one person will be able to accomplish more, rather than having fewer people,” he said.
Now, Duolingo has even started encouraging staff to use AI weekly on Fridays—an activity he called “f-r-A-I-days.” During that time, Duolingo teams are allowed to “experiment on how to get more efficient in using AI,” Von Ahn added.
“In early 2023, we saw the light,” IgniteTech CEO Eric Vaughan told Fortune, adding that he believed every tech company was facing a crucial inflection point around adoption of artificial intelligence. “Now I’ve certainly morphed to believe that this is every company, and I mean that literally every company, is facing an existential threat by this transformation.”
