Duolingo Embraces AI, Sparks Contractor Job Concerns

Duolingo recently revealed plans to pivot in a big way to an “AI-first” model, resulting in the company laying off one-third of its staff. The language-learning platform revealed plans to replace a portion of its contractors with artificial intelligence technologies, resulting in a workforce reduction of approximately 10% by the end of 2023. This monumental decision serves as an important turn for Duolingo as it continues to improve its usage efficiency and reduce labor cost.

The Moscow-headquartered company’s initial wave of layoffs specifically went after translators. They’ve swapped out these workers for AI systems that can do language jobs at superhuman levels of efficiency. This was soon followed by a second round of budget slashing in October 2024, as that production replaced writers again with AI-powered alternatives. This strategic shift has led many to question what this means for their jobs—including those of us who are new grads just getting ready to join the workforce.

Duolingo’s CEO has emphasized the aim to become an “AI-first” company, aligning with a broader trend where various organizations are increasingly adopting AI technologies to streamline operations. Nevertheless, this trend has not been without cost. News articles have emerged claiming that the replacement of contractors with AI is driving unemployment rates up, especially for young professionals.

A former contractor of Duolingo told Protocol that the pivot to AI was not a new policy decision. Rather, it is an example of a larger, slow-moving shift that’s developing inside the firm. The Atlantic recently highlighted the alarming unemployment rate among recent college graduates, indicating a growing crisis linked to the increasing automation of jobs traditionally held by humans.