Duolingo, the popular language-learning platform, has had a rocky layoff episode as it undergoes a shift to become an “AI-first” company. At the end of 2023, the company slashed almost a tenth of its contractor workforce, mainly targeting translators. This decision indeed underscores a growing trend among big tech. Businesses are moving quickly to implement artificial intelligence for the sake of cost-cutting layoffs and increased productivity.
In October 2024, Duolingo dropped the news that a new wave of cuts was coming, this time focusing on its writing contractors. These layoffs are an indication of a strategic move to replace human jobs with AI technology. This rapid move to virtual has raised fears, particularly among recent college graduates, about its long-term effects on their job prospects. The unemployment rate for this demographic is still unacceptably high, according to The Atlantic.
The company’s move is no out-of-the-blue change. A former Duolingo contractor noted that the policy of replacing contractors with AI has been in place for some time. As Duolingo grows its generative AI use cases, the company is looking to make a business out of furthering efficiencies and costs. This trend is indicative of a broader pattern happening across all industries. Meanwhile, companies are doubling down on management-favoring decisions that minimize labor and centralize power.
Tech and labor commentator Brian Merchant explained the repercussions of these tactics. He stated, “The AI jobs crisis is not any sort of SkyNet-esque robot jobs apocalypse — it’s firing tens of thousands of federal employees while waving the banner of ‘an AI-first strategy.’” This expression of fear further resonates with the fears expressed by many that will lose their jobs in industries that are becoming more dependent on automation.
Duolingo’s strategic pivot was the latest move to widely promote AI, raising questions about the long-term effects on workers. As the company continues to prioritize technology over human labor, questions arise about job security and the viability of careers in translation and writing within the tech landscape.
