What the Duolingo CEO Got Wrong About AI

In 2024, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn faced backlash after comments suggesting the company would reduce human staff in favor of AI-driven content creation. While Duolingo has long been known for innovation, this announcement triggered concern—both internally and publicly—over the implications of replacing human workers with artificial intelligence.

The situation underscores a growing issue in tech leadership: the temptation to oversell AI’s capabilities while overlooking the value of human insight. AI can certainly increase efficiency, generate ideas at scale, and automate repetitive tasks. But when used without a clear human-centered strategy, it can undermine both employee morale and product quality.

Rather than seeing AI as a shortcut to cut headcount, leaders should position it as a force multiplier — a tool to help teams do more impactful, creative work. For example, AI can help curriculum designers at Duolingo by suggesting grammar patterns, analyzing user data for content improvement, or quickly generating drafts for human review. In this way, AI complements human expertise rather than replacing it.

The backlash to Duolingo’s approach serves as a cautionary tale for companies adopting AI: innovation must be implemented responsibly. Employees are more likely to embrace change when it empowers them, not when it threatens their jobs. Transparency, collaboration, and a clear commitment to ethical deployment are essential.

Ultimately, AI is not a magic replacement for people. It’s a tool—powerful, evolving, and best used in service of human creativity and connection. Companies that recognize this balance will be the ones to thrive in the AI-powered future.