Luis von Ahn, the CEO and co-founder of Duolingo, recently responded to employee concerns about the company’s transition to artificial intelligence (AI) on social media. Following the announcement of the company's "AI-first" strategy, some employees expressed unease. Von Ahn addressed these concerns in a post on LinkedIn, aiming to clarify the company’s future direction. He acknowledged that earlier communication lacked clarity and admitted he hadn’t fully conveyed the company’s intentions.
Von Ahn emphasized that employees at Duolingo would not lose their jobs due to the introduction of AI. He stated, “I don’t think AI will replace people’s jobs (we’re actually still hiring at the same pace).” He recognized the uncertainty AI has brought to employees and encouraged curiosity rather than fear toward new technologies. He added that the company’s goal is not to replace humans but to accelerate workflows through AI while maintaining or even enhancing work quality.
This controversy arose after von Ahn circulated an internal memo weeks ago, stating that the company would gradually stop using contract workers whose tasks could be handled by AI. This move was seen as part of the company's shift to an "AI-first" strategy. Despite expanding course content through generative AI, this approach has drawn criticism both internally and externally.
Von Ahn admitted that with the introduction of AI, there may be risks of reduced quality in certain areas for Duolingo. He said, “We’d rather move fast and compromise on quality sometimes than move slowly and miss opportunities.” To help employees adapt to this change, Duolingo plans to offer workshops, form advisory committees, and provide dedicated time for AI experiments.
Besides Duolingo, many other companies, such as Shopify and Klarna, are also adopting similar "AI-first" strategies. Klarna’s CEO even claimed that the company’s chatbot could replace 700 customer service representatives. However, resistance among employees is rising; studies show that 31% of employees refuse to use AI tools at work, with many worried about unemployment.
Despite employee opposition, von Ahn remains optimistic about AI’s potential. He said, “Our mission won’t change, but the tools we use to develop new things will.”
Key Takeaways:
🌟 **AI Won’t Replace Employees**: Von Ahn clearly stated that Duolingo is still hiring and will not lay off employees due to the introduction of AI.
🚀 **Goal is to Accelerate Work**: The company aims to improve work efficiency and quality through AI technology, not replacing human work.
🤖 **Multiple Companies are Transforming**: Not only Duolingo, but other companies like Shopify and Klarna are also promoting an "AI-first" strategy, despite employee opposition.