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Language learning specialist, Duolingo has set out plans to reduce its reliance on contractors as part of a shift towards becoming an artificial intelligence-led organization.
In a message shared with employees and later posted on LinkedIn, CEO Luis von Ahn said the language learning company would phase out contractor roles where AI tools can assume the workload.
The announcement is part of a broader transformation of how Duolingo operates, positioning artificial intelligence not just as a support tool, but as the foundation for future workflows. Von Ahn acknowledged that adopting AI at speed may involve a slight dip in quality but said the company was prepared to make that trade-off in order to stay competitive.
The Pittsburgh-based business had already begun cutting content creation roles in 2024, and while von Ahn did not name specific functions affected by the new round of changes, the company confirmed it would continue down that path.
Beyond content production, Duolingo also intends to explore AI-driven processes in hiring and performance reviews. According to von Ahn, new positions will now require a justification that the work cannot be automated, echoing similar policies recently introduced at other tech firms.
AI to reshape hiring and performance processes
Von Ahn said the move was designed to free internal teams from repetitive tasks and allow them to focus on creative and strategic work. “This isn’t about replacing Duos with AI,” he wrote. “We want you to focus on real problems.”
The company is also reviewing its wider organisational structure in the context of the potential it sees in AI. In the letter, von Ahn explained that adopting artificial intelligence would require more than layering new tools on top of existing workflows. Instead, Duolingo will need to redesign many of its internal systems from the ground up.
“In many cases, we’ll need to start from scratch,” he said, describing AI not as a mere “productivity boost” but as a full-scale operational shift. The transformation, he added, would be implemented gradually, but with urgency.
The company’s leadership is also drawing on its past experience of technological shifts. Von Ahn compared the new AI-first direction to Duolingo’s early decision to prioritise mobile platforms. “Betting on mobile made all the difference,” he said. “We’re making a similar call now, and this time the platform shift is AI.”
Urgency prioritised over perfection in AI transition
Duolingo’s strategy shift is part of a growing trend among tech firms to reposition their workforce and systems to accommodate artificial intelligence. While the long-term impact on internal roles remains unclear, von Ahn made it clear that waiting for perfect AI tools was not an option.
“We’d rather move with urgency and take occasional small hits on quality than move slowly and miss the moment,” he wrote.
