Duolingo CEO: AI won't cause layoffs, jobs will change
In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, Duolingo, the popular language-learning platform, is navigating the transformative power of artificial intelligence with a nuanced approach to its workforce. Luis von Ahn, Duolingo’s CEO, has publicly affirmed that the company does not intend to lay off its full-time employees due to AI integration, but rather anticipates that their roles will evolve, allowing each individual to achieve more. “What will probably happen is that one person will be able to accomplish more, rather than having fewer people,” von Ahn stated, emphasizing AI as a tool to enhance human capabilities and improve output quality, not to replace the human element.
Duolingo has embarked on an “AI-first” operational strategy, deeply embedding artificial intelligence into various facets of its operations. This includes leveraging AI for content creation, translation, and even in administrative processes like hiring and performance reviews. Von Ahn likens this pivotal shift to the company’s embrace of mobile technology in 2012, viewing AI as the next critical platform for innovation and competitiveness. He stresses that this isn’t merely about a “productivity boost” but a fundamental “full-scale operational shift” that necessitates redesigning internal systems from the ground up.
However, Duolingo’s forward-looking stance comes with a significant distinction: while full-time employees are seemingly secure, the company has made it clear it will “gradually stop using contractors for work that AI can handle”. This strategy has already seen an impact, with Duolingo having reduced its contractor workforce by approximately 10% in 2024 due to advancements in AI-driven content creation. This move, while framed as an efficiency gain, has not been without its critics, sparking concerns among some users and employees about job security and the potential for a diminished “human touch” in the language-learning experience.
Duolingo’s position exists within a broader industry context where the impact of AI on employment is a subject of intense debate and real-world consequences. Reports from J.P. Morgan in August 2025 indicate that AI is already contributing to job displacement in certain sectors, with a noticeable slowdown in job growth within some white-collar tech industries and an increase in unemployment among college graduates in AI-exposed fields. Other tech giants like IBM have replaced hundreds of human resources employees with AI as part of broader job cuts, and Klarna, a buy-now-pay-later firm, initially slashed its workforce by 40% due to AI investments. Interestingly, Klarna’s CEO later admitted this was an “overstep” due to customer dissatisfaction and a decline in work quality, leading them to re-hire human employees, underscoring the complexities of AI integration.
Amidst these shifts, research from PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer highlights that skills required for AI-exposed jobs are evolving 66% faster than others, and workers possessing AI skills can command a substantial 56% wage premium. While the World Economic Forum projects that AI could eliminate 85 million jobs by 2025, it also anticipates the creation of 170 million new opportunities, suggesting a significant reshaping rather than outright elimination of the workforce.
Despite the internal enthusiasm Duolingo reports among its staff for AI experimentation, the initial announcement of its “AI-first” strategy in April 2025 led to consumer backlash and concerns over potential layoffs and a perceived decline in content quality. Duolingo acknowledged that this public reaction contributed to slower-than-expected user growth in the second quarter of 2025. However, Luis von Ahn remains steadfast, encouraging his team to embrace the new technology and adapt, emphasizing that “our mission isn’t changing, but the tools we use to build new things will change”. As companies like Duolingo push the boundaries of AI integration, the evolving relationship between human talent and artificial intelligence continues to redefine the future of work.