AI replaces writers and translators

There have been recent reports about Duolingo, the language learning platform, actively integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations, leading to the replacement of certain human roles, particularly among contract workers.

The first time I heard about this news was through a friend who knows I have been learning Latin, Italian, and playing around with other languages for fun for over a year.

The platform has recently incorporated Chess, which I am also using to keep my brain healthy and active. After my friend alerted me about a reported shift to an AI-first strategy I decided to do some digging. After all, I am still a technology reporter, right?

Right. So, this is what happened. In April 2025, Luis von Ahn, who is Duolingo’s Founder, CEO, and Board Member, announced a strategic transition to become an “AI-first company.”

Apparently, this shift involves gradually phasing out contractors for tasks that AI can handle, such as content creation (yeah), and incorporating AI into hiring practices and performance evaluations.

According to von Ahn, who previously invented and founded the company reCAPTCHA in 2007 and sold it to Google in 2009, the company’s goal is not to replace existing full-time employees.

In an interview with Bloomberg Television (you can watch it below), he said that the goal is to “eliminate repetitive tasks, allowing staff to focus on more creative and meaningful work.” I am pretty sure that’s the old song we have all heard before, or is it not?

Duolingo CEO interview with Bloomberg TV:

AI-first strategy: Impact on human roles

This is, by no means, the first time Duolingo has implemented changes that include more incorporation of AI into its strategy. Back in 2023, the company cut around 10 per cent of its contractor workforce with the humans being replaced by AI.

A year later, in 2024, there were further human reductions affecting both writers and translators.

Whilst Duolingo maintains that these changes aim to enhance efficiency and scalability, it’s not surprising that former contractors view the changes as direct replacements of valuable human roles with AI.

In an interview, Luis von Ahn said that AI was able to produce in one year content that it took human employees 12 years to develop. He wants lots of content and fast.

Meanwhile, more human writers and translators join the unemployed lists. We, who write for a living, know that it’s getting complicated as companies choose AI over us, human writers and translators.

Duolingo’s CEO also said that the company will use AI to hire, review, and decide head count. This is a tendency that we are starting to see now and that will increase overtime.

Public and employee reactions on the AI-first company’s strategy

Business Insider reported that the company’s move has sparked criticism on social media, with some users expressing dissatisfaction and pledging to stop using the application.

Duolingo has millions of global paid subscribers and the numbers continue to increase. The company continues to grow; it has recently expanded into new areas such as music and math with the latest addition being chess. Duolingo has already created 148 new courses with AI.

There is no doubt that Duolingo’s adoption of AI is reshaping its workforce.

Whilst the company asserts that full-time employees are not being replaced, the mass integration of AI into various aspects of the company’s operations means a transformation in how the company functions. If the full-time employees will be replaced in the future remains to be seen.

Related:

By 2030, most higher education graduates will be AI literate:

Read my interview with Dr. Cindy Casey, who says that in the future, every job will be an AI job: