A week after declaring that AI would eventually replace contract workers at the language-learning app, Duolingo’s CEO said the company was “continuing to hire” and would support its existing workers in getting up to speed on the technology.
It follows buzzy startup Klarna in backing off an AI-first promise.
Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO, took to LinkedIn on Thursday to walk back a previous stance pushing AI use over human employees.
I’m hoping Lingonaut will be available before my subscription renews in December. Otherwise it’s RocketLanguages through my library.
I like learning Japanese but I’m done with the gamified streaks and badges and passive aggressive widgets.
That fucking lightning, am I right?
Check out wanikani. It’s SRS, but done really well.
Hey thanks I will!
If you’re android, there’s an app called smoldering durtles, otherwise you gotta use the website. I created a tasker profile to notify me when new lessons or reviews are available. Lmk if you’re interested
Already deleted my account, and it’s staying that way.
I stopped my subscription and complained.
Surprise surprise, my complaint about AI got handled by an AI, what a load of shit.
AI could have predicted this.
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Every time I see this guy and the word Duilingo I think Ding-a-ling. As in Ding Dong Dickhead. Is it just me?
I frosee other apps replacing what duolingo does
Busuu is like what Duolingo used to be, but with native audio/video clips, actual grammar lessons, and the chance to write/speak sentences and have them graded by native speakers (other app users).
It’s free with ads, but the paid tier is also cheaper than Duolingo. 👍
Memrise isn’t bad.
They’re so so fucking stupid. Like, he’s trying to appeal to thickheaded investors so that the stocks pump on AI hype then has to contradict himself entirely when *people who use the actual fucking product * stop using it because it would be an AI slop nightmare.
But we still see AI replacing you.
What I find to be the biggest danger about AI is that in subjects I’m an expert in — it is so routinely completely fucking wrong! However, in subjects that I am not an expert in, I cannot call out its lies as it says them with so much confidence. This makes me assume that most of what it says cannot be trusted.
With duolingo it’s not that it’s really wrong. The content is just so fucking bland it’s boring.
Their biggest push has been more content using the AI for ideas, and it’s been horrible.
If you really want to learn a new language, you don’t even need Duolingo. AI can do it alone. You have a teacher with infinite patience and infinite time. I’ve recently taken to conversing with AI in the language I want to learn and it will instantly help correct my grammar while also carrying the conversation forward. Duolingo, as you say, would just drill me repeatedly on how to say nonsense like “I am a penguin” or “Green tea and coffee.”
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing the link!
AI can easily replace ceos. Far more easier than say a coder.
Yeah, maybe when a board replaces their CEO with an AI to save money, the rest of them will get scared and stop spending money on it
Replace the masters!? Then who will drive the slaves?
SkyNet.
(I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords!)
I just deleted the app today based off his comments. Losing a 918 day streak (but, really, who cares?). A friend of mine deleted it this week, too, and lost 1,200 days.
He’ll “walk this back” today and 100% move forward with reducing the human workforce when the heat dies down. I don’t trust him one bit.
ALSO: check your local library. There’s a chance it has Mango Languages available for free. That’s what I switched to. Now that app sits in the same place where Duo used to be. Easy swap.
Years ago, I used Duolingo only, every day for about 4-5 months until i reached a point where it was difficult enough that I was making too many mistakes.
I later did about 10 lessons with an online teacher, starting from the basics, pronunciation, grammar, alphabet and etc. When I carried on with duolingo after the lessons, it was so much easier that I was getting 100% rights. Just 10 lessons were better than months on duolingo.
Made me realise that duolingo and similar apps are not the best way to learn.
Duolingo is absolute shit for the basic sentence structure and rules because nothing is explained. Especially if learning a language with a different script like cyrilic or arabic or chinese writting.
I had some issues with norwegian because certain rules were not really clear and also not explained. They also removed the comments part where people could discuss the sentences and such.
Once you know the basics duolingo actually becomes usable as a vocabulary expansion and maybe listening and speaking exercises.
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damage done, L nerd
The myth of the “job creator business owner” is such garbage. Business owners create jobs begrudgingly and as a last resort.
Yep, by new boss just fired 35 people out for 100 to save costs for investors, and then bitches things aren’t getting done and products are not evolving.
Oh stfu Luis. You said what you said because you fucking meant it. You fucking cash addicts would murder your own children if it meant line go up this quarter.
At least own the fact you’re a fucking monster, and yeah, Luis, be the monster you are in fucking public. We all see you now motherfucker.
I would almost respect hypocrites like this more if they owned it.
