Duolingo Shifts to AI-First Strategy, Launches 148 New Courses

Duolingo has announced a major strategic shift to become an 'AI-first' company, placing artificial intelligence at the center of its product development and operations. This change has enabled Duolingo to more than double its language course offerings, including making Japanese available across all 28 interface languages, dramatically increasing global access. The company's new approach involves phasing out contractor roles in favor of AI-driven workflows, evaluating employee performance based on AI adoption, and restricting hiring unless automation is not viable. Management credits AI for accelerating course creation, improving efficiency, and supporting rapid expansion into new subjects such as chess, math, and music. Financial results reflect this momentum, with Duolingo reporting strong revenue growth and raising its full-year guidance, citing the scalability of AI-driven content and anticipated cost savings as generative models become cheaper. The shift has sparked both enthusiasm and concern in the education industry, highlighting debates about AI's impact on jobs and the future of learning.