Duolingo is reducing its workforce as the language learning app pivots towards artificial intelligence (AI).

Duolingo has recently reduced its contract workforce by approximately 10%, with the aim of shifting towards a greater reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) within its educational technology app. This move was not solely technology-driven, as the language learning company let go of some contractors at the end of 2023 in order to accommodate AI-related changes in content generation and sharing. It’s worth noting that no full-time employees were affected by these layoffs, and Duolingo made efforts to find alternative roles for those impacted before considering off-boarding as a last resort.

Duolingo, known for its virtual language tutoring, boasts 24.2 million daily active users, 5.8 million paid subscribers, and offers over 100 courses. The company has been proactive in integrating AI into its platform, introducing a new subscription tier called “Duolingo Max” in March, which incorporates OpenAI’s advanced language model GPT-4. This upgrade includes AI-powered features like engaging in full conversations with a chatbot to practice language skills and receiving AI-generated explanations for correct or incorrect answers.

According to CEO Luis von Ahn, generative AI has accelerated Duolingo’s content creation process significantly. Following the contractor layoffs, AI will play a more prominent role in tasks such as generating sentences for courses, compiling lists of acceptable translations, and reviewing user error reports for quicker corrections. However, the company emphasizes that AI is not replacing human expertise but rather enhancing productivity, efficiency, and content improvement.

Duolingo’s approach aligns with a broader trend in which companies are increasingly incorporating AI and automation, potentially leading to workforce reductions. A report from ResumeBuilder in November highlighted that 37% of surveyed companies replaced workers with AI in 2023, and 44% expect AI to cause layoffs in 2024. Other tech companies, like Chegg and Dropbox, have also cited AI as a reason for reducing their workforce to better align with their AI-focused strategies.