Duolingo is introducing 148 new language programs that have been created with generative AI, the corporate introduced on Wednesday. The launch comes as Duolingo has been dealing with backlash this week after sharing that it was going to exchange contractors with AI and change into an “AI-first” firm.
The corporate says the launch of the brand new programs doubles its present course choices and marks the biggest growth of content material in Duolingo’s historical past.
“Growing our first 100 programs took about 12 years, and now, in a few yr, we’re capable of create and launch practically 150 new programs,” mentioned Duolingo co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn in a press launch. “It is a nice instance of how generative AI can instantly profit our learners. This launch displays the unimaginable affect of our AI and automation investments, which have allowed us to scale at unprecedented pace and high quality.”
Previously, it could usually take years to construct a single course on Duolingo, the corporate notes. Now, it was in a position to make use of generative AI and different instruments to launch 148 programs in lower than a yr.
Whereas Duolingo is touting its use of AI, the corporate is dealing with backlash from customers who’re disheartened by its plans to make use of the know-how to exchange staff and use it extra deeply in its app.
On Monday, von Ahn advised employees in an e-mail that the corporate was shifting to AI and that it could “progressively cease utilizing contractors to do work that AI can deal with.” He additionally wrote that “headcount will solely be given if a workforce can not automate extra of their work.”
“Al isn’t only a productiveness enhance,” he wrote. “It helps us get nearer to our mission. To show nicely, we have to create an enormous quantity of content material, and doing that manually doesn’t scale. Probably the greatest choices we made not too long ago was changing a sluggish, handbook content material creation course of with one powered by AI. With out Al, it could take us many years to scale our content material to extra learners. We owe it to our learners to get them this content material ASAP.”
Customers have taken to social media to share their displeasure with the corporate’s plans, with some arguing that its use of AI is making the app worse with inaccurate and lower-quality content material. Others have deleted the app and are encouraging others to comply with go well with.
As for the brand new language programs, Duolingo says they’re primarily designed to help newbie ranges. They embrace options similar to Tales, which helps develop studying comprehension, and DuoRadio, which helps with listening comprehension. The corporate plans to launch extra superior content material within the coming months.
