Duolingo cuts 10% of its contractor workforce as the company embraces AI

Duolingo cuts 10% of its contractor workforce as the company embraces AI

Duolingo recently made cuts to its contractor workforce, attributing it to integrating AI models like GPT-4 for content production and translations. This move reflects a broader trend as AI impacts various job roles, including language-based tasks.

A Redditor first flagged the layoffs, sharing an email from Duolingo explaining that AI now handles content creation and translations, with humans overseeing the process.

According to a company spokesperson, AI, particularly GPT-4, assists in translating sentences, which are then reviewed by human experts to ensure quality and alignment with language proficiency standards.

Duolingo also utilizes AI, including its proprietary model "Birdbrain," to enhance experiences like AI-generated feedback and chatbots for conversational practice in its premium tier, Duolingo Max.

The company clarified that the departures were not layoffs but rather a natural conclusion of contracts or operational improvements that reduced the need for additional personnel, partly due to AI integration.

However, the news stirred concerns among contractors and users, fueling apprehensions about AI replacing human workers and the potential loss of linguistic expertise and cultural nuances in translations.

With a majority of its workforce consisting of contractors, the move also raised questions about job security and employment benefits, contrasting with the permanent roles held by 600 full-time employees in 2022.