AI in Action: Duolingo's Shift and the Future of Work

Duolingo has announced its transition to an "AI-first" company, planning to replace contractors with artificial intelligence. This move follows previous reductions in its contractor workforce, with approximately 10% cut at the end of 2023 and another round in October 2024, primarily affecting translators and writers . The company aims to streamline content creation and translation processes using AI models like OpenAI's GPT-4, while human experts validate the output to ensure quality. 

Journalist Brian Merchant highlights Duolingo's strategy as indicative of a broader trend where companies replace entry-level white-collar jobs with AI, contributing to higher unemployment rates among recent graduates . He argues that this shift is driven by executive decisions to cut labor costs and consolidate control, leading to attrition in creative industries and declining income for freelance artists and writers.

The public response has been mixed. While Duolingo emphasizes the efficiency and scalability benefits of AI integration, some users express concerns over the quality and accuracy of AI-generated content . The situation underscores the ongoing debate about the impact of AI on employment and the balance between technological advancement and job security.

‍

Source: TechCrunch