Duolingo Expands with 148 AI-Generated Language Courses Amid Workforce Shift
Duolingo has unveiled 148 new language courses, all developed using generative AI. This expansion marks the largest in the company’s history, doubling its existing course offerings. “Developing our first 100 courses took about 12 years, and now, in about a year, we’re able to create and launch nearly 150 new courses,” said co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn.
The move comes amid controversy, as Duolingo recently announced plans to transition to an “AI-first” approach, reducing reliance on human contractors. Von Ahn emphasized that AI enables faster content creation, aligning with the company’s mission to “teach well” by scaling efficiently. However, this shift has sparked criticism from users who fear a decline in content quality and job losses.
The new courses focus on beginner-level learners, featuring tools like Stories for reading comprehension and DuoRadio for listening skills. Advanced content is expected later this year.
Despite the backlash, Duolingo defends its AI integration as a necessary step for growth. “Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content,” von Ahn stated. Meanwhile, some users are abandoning the app, citing concerns over AI-driven inaccuracies.
