Mars: Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of, like, total meltdowns online about Duolingo and AI. What's the deal? What exactly happened?
Mia: Right, so basically, the CEO, Luis von Ahn, sent out this memo saying Duolingo was going AI-first. Which, in corporate speak, means automating *everything*. Like, lesson creation, customer support, even hiring.
Mars: Whoa. So, people freaked out thinking they were about to lose their jobs?
Mia: Bingo. Cancelled subscriptions, angry tweets... the whole nine yards. People were worried about mass layoffs. It's kind of like when Netflix started cancelling shows left and right – everyone got nervous.
Mars: And then he tried to do damage control on LinkedIn?
Mia: Exactly. He admitted the memo caused a panic – cancellations, angry posts, the works. But he didn’t walk back the *big* stuff, like using AI for hiring or automating roles.
Mars: Hmm. So, he's saying, We're not firing people, but also, We'll cut contractors if AI can do their jobs?
Mia: That's the kicker. Internally, they were telling contractors, If the AI can handle it, you're out. But externally, it was all, Don't worry, nobody's being replaced! It's like telling your dog you love him while secretly programming a robot dog to take over walkies.
Mars: (laughs) Harsh. But from a growth perspective, I can see why they'd want to use AI, right?
Mia: Totally. He’s arguing AI is the only way to scale fast. He mentioned it's like hiring a million okay tutors instead of ten amazing ones. Even if the AI tutors make mistakes, the sheer volume is supposed to make up for it.
Mars: But people don't like the idea of being taught by robots, do they?
Mia: Nope. Hearing bots could teach as well as humans really rubbed people the wrong way. It feels like you're devaluing real teachers and, you know, blue-collar work. People are worried about a future where no one has a job, just AI overlords.
Mars: So, is Duolingo gonna backpedal at all?
Mia: Experts think probably not. The AI plan is still on track, but PR-wise, they’ll be *way* more careful. You know, softer messaging, maybe doing test runs before big announcements.
Mars: Sounds like classic tech company damage control, right? Keep the engine running, just slap on a new coat of paint.
Mia: Exactly. In a few months, we'll see new AI features, maybe a chat bot for practice, and the outrage will die down until the next memo drops.
Mars: I get it. So the moral of the story is, in the age of AI, even a language app can start a labor war.
Mia: (chuckles) You got it. Just remember, every AI-first move makes real people worry about being jobs-last.
Mars: Well, that wraps up the Duolingo AI drama. Thanks for filling me in!
