What to know

  • Duolingo has launched 148 new language courses created using generative AI, doubling its total course offerings.
  • This marks the largest content expansion in the company's history, achieved in less than a year.
  • The move follows Duolingo's announcement to replace contractors with AI, sparking mixed reactions from users and professionals.
  • The new courses focus on beginner levels and include features to improve reading and listening skills.

Duolingo, the popular language learning platform, has announced the launch of 148 new language courses developed with generative AI. This expansion more than doubles the company's previous course offerings and represents the largest single content launch in Duolingo's history. According to the company, the new courses were created in less than a year, a process that previously would have taken years for each course using traditional methods.

The rapid development was made possible by Duolingo's investment in AI and automation. CEO Luis von Ahn stated that while it took about 12 years to develop the first 100 courses, the company was able to create and launch nearly 150 new courses in about a year thanks to generative AI. The new courses primarily target beginner learners and include immersive features such as Stories and DuoRadio to help users improve their reading and listening skills.

This major expansion comes shortly after Duolingo shared its plans to become an 'AI-first' company. The company announced it would reduce its reliance on contractors, using AI to handle much of the course creation work. This decision has led to mixed reactions. Some users and professionals have expressed concern about the impact on language experts and the quality of content, while others see the move as a way to provide more learning options to a global audience at a faster pace.

Duolingo's new approach uses shared content systems and internal tools to create a high-quality base course that can be quickly customized for different languages. The company says this method allows it to scale its offerings at unprecedented speed and quality. The expansion also makes popular languages like Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin available across 28 supported user interface languages, aiming to meet the growing demand for Asian languages and provide more choices for learners worldwide.

While Duolingo highlights the benefits of AI for learners, the shift has sparked debate about the broader implications for language professionals and the role of automation in education. The company maintains that its focus is on removing bottlenecks and enabling staff to work on more creative and complex problems, rather than repetitive tasks.

Via: techcrunch