Duolingo Is Going ‘AI-First’: What Does That Even Mean?
People who want to learn an additional language often download Duolingo. The popular language-learning resource dominated app stores for years, but the company recently made headlines for making a major change to its practices. Understanding what Duolingo’s “AI-first” announcement means could reveal where other educational apps might go and why they might adopt artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
What Did Duolingo Mean By Going AI-First?
DuolingoCEO Luis von Ahn sent an email in April 2025 announcing that the company would reduce its reliance on contractors to write courses. Instead, the brand will use AI to generate lessons. The app made 148 new courses public within 48 hours of the announcement.
The brand’s “AI-first” business model also extends to hiring practices. The same announcement included details on how Duolingo’s recruiting department would hire new employees and conduct performance reviews with AI programs.
How Would That Impact Duolingo Fans?
Languages including Spanish, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Arabic are growing significantly in the United States, and Duolingo and other apps are contributing to the increasing diversity. Many Duolingo users feel divided about the company’s new business model. Users who once actively engaged with Duolingo and admired the brand’s online presence vowed to delete their accounts and even boycott the company after learning about the AI decision.
Luis responded to the fans by taking a fast-action approach with a swift interview on Bloomberg Television. He explained how the company cares about its employees and said AI can help them manage their tasks better. He emphasized that rather than completely replacing human workers, the company will reduce contractor responsibilities when AI can handle them well. However, his answer did not address concerns about how the AI additions would affect the environment or what precautions Duolingo will take to ensure that AI answers are correct.
Many Duolingo users may not mind the change, given how AI features have been in the app for a while, such as video chats with Duolingo characters and AI feedback about grammar errors. Others might appreciate the quick access to extra courses if they progressed through what is available.
Could It Appeal To New Users?
Artificial intelligence has numerous potential advantages in a language-learning context. Programs could analyze a person’s speech patterns, which helps when you are learning to pronounce new words. If users pay for the Duolingo subscription, they can ask the AI to explain why it graded their answer as a mistake. AI can provide numerous explanations as needed, which could appeal to people who have never tried Duolingo before.
SOURCE: PEXELS
The recent AI updates also made the seven most popular languages available to all users speaking any of the 28 languages the app recognizes. Curious language learners may return for the courses they could not try before.
Will Other Language Learning Apps Follow Duolingo’s Lead?
Numerous language learning apps also use AI to some degree. Babbel, Memrise and Busuu are among the most popular. They use AI for similar purposes, such as checking answers and providing extra study opportunities. However, the companies haven’t announced any intentions to stop working with contractors.
Duolingo’s competitors could adopt the same business model if Duolingo regains its public reputation after the latest announcement and experiences significant growth. AI could add to business growth strategies in ways similar to expanding to new markets, depending on how each company’s consumers react. If additional people learn languages more easily with AI assistance, you can expect to see more AI-focused practices driving educational resources.
AI Could Become More Important For Language-Centric Programs
The CEO of Duolingo took a significant step in making AI the center of future business practices. While the announcement received immediate negative feedback, AI is not new to the app either. If Duolingo recovers the number of users who deleted their accounts and continues to grow, the company could lead its competitors into an algorithm-centric future of language learning.
