Want a job at Duolingo? Better know how to use AI

AI WORKPLACE

Want a job at Duolingo? Better know how to use AI

Duolingo has announced it’s becoming an AI-first company.

In a message shared with staff and later posted online, CEO Luis von Ahn said the shift will change how the business runs, from hiring to content creation.

While it’s not about cutting jobs, von Ahn made it clear that new roles will only be added when automation genuinely can’t do the work.

Rather than tweaking what’s already in place, Duolingo is rethinking how things are done, with AI built in from the ground up.

Contractors will be phased out where AI tools are a better fit, and employees are being encouraged to use AI to work smarter.

The idea is to remove the repetitive tasks and give people more space to focus on creative, high-impact work.

What’s changing:

• AI use will play a role in hiring and performance reviews.

• New headcount will only be approved if tasks can’t be automated.

• Contractor work will wind down where AI can handle the load.

Less Ctrl+C, more big brain moves

Von Ahn pointed to recent wins with AI, including speeding up the creation of learning content and developing new features that were previously impossible.

He compared this to Duolingo’s early move to mobile in 2012, a shift that helped define the company’s growth.

HR is watching… and so is the algorithm.