Duolingo Adds Equivalent Curriculum Developed by Gen AI Post Substituting Contract Employees with AI

Duolingo has shifted its approach to an AI-First strategy, laying off all contract employees to utilize AI instead. The company has introduced a total of 148 new language courses developed by Generative AI, surpassing the number of foreign language courses for users who do not speak English fluently compared to the previous year. These courses are primarily beginner level, with higher-level lessons to follow later this year.

This marks Duolingo’s largest language course launch, potentially enabling over a billion people worldwide to access learning opportunities. Previously, it took 12 years to develop the initial 100 courses, but AI has expedited content creation, facilitating faster learning for users.

Duolingo’s CEO has praised the AI-First approach, acknowledging potential quality fluctuations at times but deeming the use of AI to accelerate content creation as a smart decision. Rather than having humans review content line by line, Duolingo now trains AI to perform more thorough checks, leading to a shift in team structure. The team now includes not only learning scientists but also engineers and AI researchers to establish rules and verify content.

Furthermore, they have tested AI models beyond those of OpenAI, such as Claude from Anthropic, Google tools, and open-source options. Claude, for example, has excelled in managing certain mathematical topics, offering a new curriculum for Duolingo.

However, some users express dissatisfaction with the app, feeling that it prioritizes quantity over quality. At times, activities like speaking and writing exercises are marked as incorrect when they are actually correct. For instance, the Japanese language course used to be better before AI intervened and caused issues.

Source: Bloomberg

TLDR: Duolingo transitions to an AI-First approach, releasing 148 new language courses developed by Generative AI, aiming to enhance learning opportunities globally. Despite some concerns over quality, the use of AI has accelerated content creation and streamlined the review process.