Duolingo CEO slammed after announcing AI will replace contract workers in shocking email to employees

Duolingo's CEO, Luis von Ahn, has faced some backlash after announcing the company will become 'AI first' and replace contractor roles.

Artificial intelligence isn't anything new; however, as it grows in scope, a few companies have been looking to implement it in their businesses.

Duolingo is the latest company to announce that it will utilise more AI to produce a better product for its users. For those who haven't tried and failed to learn a new language, Duolingo is a language-learning website and app that has garnered a huge following on social media due to its hilariously bizarre marketing.

But this new announcement hasn't gone down well with some. The company released a statement on LinkedIn laying out its plan to become 'AI-first.'

Duolingo has upset some users with its announcement (Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

In its announcement, Duolingo said it would be rolling out a few 'constructive constraints', which includes changing to how it works with contractors, looking for AI use in hiring and in performance reviews, and that 'headcount will only be given if a team cannot automate more of their work' (via The Verge).

"Being AI-first means we will need to rethink how much we work. Making minor tweaks to systems designed for humans won’t get us there." it says.

The email insisted it wasn’t about replacing workers of the company, but rather ‘removing bottlenecks’, so that employees can 'focus on creative work and real problems, not repetitive tasks'.

They added in their post: "What doesn't change: We will remain a company that cares deeply about its employees."

The full email can be viewed here:

Following this, people have been voicing their disapproval towards the situation, as one person said: "Duolingo what a depressing post. Nice touch burying human acknowledgement to the bottom. High praise for effectively forgetting that language connects humans.

"Great job kneeling at the altar of AI."

Another said: “I know many companies are taking this stance. I trusted Duolingo would be better and more people-focused than this.

“No matter how you try to spin it, 'headcount will only be given if we can’t automate more of our work' and 'caring deeply about our people' don’t mesh.

“You’re either about optimizing for extreme efficiency or about people.”

A few people aren't happy with the inclusion of AI (Getty Stock Image)

A third added: “The quality for lessons outside of the major players (Spanish, French, etc.) were already lackluster and lacked quality explanations. I don’t want content generated by AI that may be incorrect on top of that. And I support employees over AI, always.”

Another comment reads: "AI-first" actually means you do NOT care deeply about your employees. If you did, you wouldn't replace them with robots that will make the platform worse."

AI being used in the workforce instead of people is something that has been widely predicted for a while, however, Bill Gates believes there are three jobs it cannot touch.

UNILAD has contacted Duolingo for comment.