The Digital Press

Duolingo is shifting to an "AI-first" approach, planning to replace contract workers with AI to automate repetitive tasks and scale content creation faster. The company aims to integrate AI deeply in its operations, hiring, and performance reviews to enhance efficiency and focus employees on creative work.

Why it matters: Duolingo’s AI-first strategy could transform language learning by rapidly scaling content and automating manual processes.

The big picture: This move reflects a broader tech trend of rebuilding workflows around AI rather than retrofitting existing human-centered systems.

The stakes: Relying heavily on AI risks losing human nuance critical for effective language teaching, potentially impacting educational quality.

Commenters say: Many express concern about AI replacing human roles, doubt AI’s ability to match teaching quality, and worry about the practical impact on language learning outcomes.