Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn has clarified his earlier statement that the company would become an “AI-first company,” addressing the backlash that followed by explaining that it was taken out of context.
Von Ahn stated that internally, the declaration was not seen as controversial, but externally, it led to assumptions that the company’s focus was solely on profit or that it would result in employee layoffs. In a recent interview, he emphasized that Duolingo has “never laid off any full-time employees” and has no plans to do so, alleviating concerns about the company’s intentions regarding its workforce.
While acknowledging that the contractor workforce has fluctuated, von Ahn noted that this has always been dependent on the company’s needs since its inception. Despite the external criticism, von Ahn remains optimistic about the potential of artificial intelligence. He highlighted that Duolingo team members dedicate Friday mornings to experimenting with AI technology, humorously referring to these sessions as “f-r-A-I-days.”
