Duolingo CEO Defends AI Strategy After Memo Backlash

Duolingo’s decision to call itself an “AI-first company” has drawn sharp reactions this year. 

Many critics assumed the change signaled job cuts or a profit-driven shift. Chief Executive Luis von Ahn now says those fears were misplaced.

Missing Context 

The controversy began when von Ahn’s internal note circulated outside the company. The phrase “AI-first” was widely interpreted as a move away from human workers. 

In an interview with The New York Times, von Ahn admitted his wording lacked context. “Internally, this was not controversial,” he said. 

“Externally, as a publicly traded company, some people assume that it’s just for profit. Or that we’re trying to lay off humans. And that was not the intent at all.”

No Layoffs

Von Ahn stressed that Duolingo has “never laid off any full-time employees” and has no plans to do so. 

He did note that the company’s use of contractors has changed over time. “From the beginning, our contractor workforce has gone up and down depending on needs,” he explained.

Also read: Microsoft Announces $500M in AI Savings After Mass Layoffs

AI Experimentation

Despite criticism, von Ahn remains confident in AI’s value. The company dedicates time each week to exploring new tools. 

“Every Friday morning, the team takes time to try AI,” he said. The sessions even have a lighthearted nickname: “f-r-A-I-days.”

In these experiments, teams test how AI can improve lessons, speed up responses, and personalize learning. Von Ahn sees AI as a tool to support staff, not replace them.