Hey there, tech fans! Today, let’s explore what Duolingo’s CEO has to say about AI and their company’s direction.

Duolingo’s boss, Luis von Ahn, cleared up some misunderstandings around their AI plans. After some critics pointed out that Duolingo might become an “AI-first” company, he explained that internally, there was no controversy about their approach.

He emphasized that publicly, people might assume they’re just chasing profits or trying to cut jobs, but that’s not the case. Von Ahn states they’ve actually never let go of full-time employees and have no plans to do so. Although they have adjusted their contractor workforce based on need, their core team remains stable.

Despite the backlash, the CEO still believes strongly in AI’s potential. The company even dedicates every Friday morning to experimenting with new AI technologies. He humorously referred to this initiative as “f-r-A-I-days,” confessing he struggles with the pronunciation of the acronym.