Duolingo's Ai-First Approach Sparks Debate on Language Learning Quality

Duolingo, a popular language learning app, has shifted to an AI-first structure, sparking debate about ethics and the role of human input in education. Since 2023, Duolingo has progressively integrated AI, reducing the need for professional translators. This culminated in 2024 with the replacement of human workers with AI models, leading to the dismissal of numerous freelance collaborators. This decision has drawn criticism from translators, linguists, and language education experts. Organizations like the American Translators Association and the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs have voiced concerns about the potential decline in the quality of educational content. They also highlight the precariousness of intellectual work in this new landscape. Despite the controversy, Duolingo has launched 148 new language courses in the first half of 2025, including those for regional and indigenous languages. These courses feature listening, fill-in-the-blank, translation, pronunciation, and reading comprehension exercises. The AI algorithms adapt the content to individual student progress, monitoring errors and completion rates. However, users have reported a decline in the quality of the learning experience, citing inaccurate content, flawed translations, and out-of-context phrases. Some courses are perceived as repetitive and lacking in nuance, particularly at intermediate and advanced levels. This raises concerns about the potential for a standardized and unengaging learning process. While other platforms like Babbel, Memrise, and Rosetta Stone have also integrated AI, they maintain a strong human component, especially for advanced courses. Duolingo's radical shift highlights the broader trend of AI impacting creative work, raising questions about whether AI can truly replace human intelligence in language transmission. Experts suggest a hybrid model where AI supports human input, rather than replacing it entirely.