Duolingo's AI-First Strategy Torn Apart by Angry Users

Duolingo, the beloved language-learning app known for its quirky green owl mascot and gamified approach, recently found itself in the eye of a digital storm. On April 2025, CEO Luis von Ahn announced that the company would pivot to an "AI-first" strategy. The plan? Gradually replace contractors with artificial intelligence to scale operations and double course offerings. What could go wrong with such a bold and futuristic move? Well, as it turns out, quite a lot.