Duolingo CEO Clarifies AI-First Plan After Backlash, Says AI Won’t Replace Employees

Luis von Ahn, chief executive officer and co-founder of Duolingo, is seeking to address employee concerns after weeks of anxiety sparked by the company’s “AI-first” shift. In a recent LinkedIn post, von Ahn acknowledged that his earlier communication lacked clarity and sought to reassure both employees and the public about the company’s future with artificial intelligence.

“One of the most important things leaders can do is provide clarity,” von Ahn wrote on LinkedIn. “When I released my AI memo a few weeks ago, I didn’t do that well.”

The clarification comes after internal and external backlash to the company’s AI strategy, which included the replacement of some contract workers with AI tools and an increased role of generative AI in content development.

AI is not replacing employees, CEO insists

von Ahn emphasized that their employees, known as “Duos,” are not at risk. “To be clear: I do not see AI as replacing what our employees do (we are in fact continuing to hire at the same speed as before),” he wrote.

He also acknowledged the anxiety many are feeling about AI’s role in the workplace. “AI is creating uncertainty for all of us, and we can respond to this with fear or curiosity,” he stated. “I’ve always encouraged our team to embrace new technology… and we are taking that same approach with AI.”

According to von Ahn, the goal is not to replace humans but to “accelerate what we do, at the same or better level of quality.” He said Duolingo is introducing workshops, advisory councils, and dedicated time for AI experimentation to help teams adapt.

What sparked the controversy?

The initial memo that sparked the wave of criticism painted a bold future for AI at Duolingo. In it, von Ahn wrote that the company would “gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle.”

This shift was part of a broader move to become “AI-first,” supported by recent expansions in course offerings made possible through generative AI.

The company is even incentivizing AI use in performance reviews and recruitment. Despite assurances, many viewed this as a sign of deeper structural changes to the workforce. As of January 2024, Duolingo had already cut 10% of its contractor workforce, citing gains from AI-driven content creation. A former contractor speaking anonymously said cuts were largely intended to reduce costs and speed up production.

von Ahn acknowledged potential hits to quality, writing, “We’d rather move with urgency and take occasional small hits on quality than move slowly and miss that moment.”

Shopify and Klarna have adopted similar “AI-first” stances

Duolingo isn’t alone in this transition; other companies including Shopify and Klarna have made similar AI-centric pivots, with Klarna’s CEO claiming its chatbot now does the work of 700 customer service agents.

Still, employee pushback is growing. A recent study found that 31% of workers have refused to use AI tools at work, with many fearing job loss or expressing frustration at the tools themselves.

Despite this resistance, von Ahn remains optimistic about AI’s potential. “Our mission isn’t changing,” he wrote. “But the tools we use to build new things will change.”