Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn has clarified the company’s “AI-first” stance amid public criticism, stating that the real issue was a lack of context. Von Ahn told The New York Times that the goal is not to replace humans but to leverage AI for better learning experiences. Despite initial concerns about job losses, Duolingo has maintained its full-time employee count and reduced contractor workforce in line with project needs. The company remains bullish on AI’s potential, with team members devoting Fridays to experimentation.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/17/duolingo-ceo-says-controversial-ai-memo-was-misunderstood