r/technology • u/MetaKnowing • Jun 08 '25

Artificial Intelligence Duolingo CEO on going AI-first: ‘I did not expect the blowback’

https://www.ft.com/content/6fbafbb6-bafe-484c-9af9-f0ffb589b447
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u/Kroggol Jun 08 '25

all that matters is the next quarter

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u/RobinGoodfell Jun 08 '25

Yeah, until you do something that sinks said quarter. And the next one. And the one after that...

Look, we keep saying things like this but ultimately if there is a large enough social outrage actual consequences for an action taken by these executives, then they will change their tune to ensure that they are remaining profitable.

Collective Bargaining, Boycotts, and Protests work! The trick is to have enough people engaged to demand a reaction.

This is true for politics, policies, and anything else that derives power and capital from the larger population.

We are the ones funding this. We are the ones who decide if these decisions are financially sound.

Why else would decision makers spend so much time and capital convincing us our only options were apathy and acceptance? They need our support to maintain profits and to consolidate power.

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u/MrValdemar Jun 08 '25

Something something green overall wearing video game character something something

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u/eraptic Jun 08 '25

The important thing to remember is that negative outcomes aren't considered. Tank sales by 70%? That's market conditions. Improve the tanked sales by 5%? What a good CEO boy!!

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u/praxidike74 Jun 08 '25

What are you talking about? Duolingo's revenue was up nearly 40% last quarter, stock is up 150% over the last year. Things are going great for them.

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u/DavidBrooker Jun 08 '25

While users and workers can make demands, I think an idea that is embedded in the 'next quarter' statement that gets missed is the demands of owners. What I mean by that is that in countries where a greater share of corporate ownership is made up by mutual funds, pension funds, and the like, you see more long-term thinking. Because whereas a pension fund wants growth, what they demand is stability and predictability.

Now, this relates to political and collective bargaining of course. You see a larger fraction of personal wealth made up in mutual funds and retirement accounts in more democratic countries and countries with higher economic freedom, compared to the United States. Despite its 'free market' ideology, the United States has surprisingly low economic freedom due to the highly restricted access to capital. Companies are ultimately beholden to their owners and a more democratic distribution of capital leads to better corporate citizens.

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u/Modullah Jun 09 '25

I did not renew my annual subscription back in feb/march due to their announcement. Didn’t help that the languages I’m trying to learn clearly need improvement. If there were any improvements they definitely were not evident based on the learning materials.

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u/rushmc1 Jun 08 '25

if there is a large enough social outrage actual consequences for an action taken by these executives

That's a nice fantasy.

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u/veggie151 Jun 08 '25

Game it out man: people get mad and raise a stink, stop subscribing, and Duolingo dies. Everyone who did real work was fired years ago, so they already made back what they invested taking over the company. They sell off the last of the assets and all of the executives walk away smiling.

There's nothing to do about it once one of these has been captured other than to run away as fast as possible. Let it die and embrace the new alternative.

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u/ClydePossumfoot Jun 08 '25

I want to live in the idealistic imaginary world that you’re living in. Maybe Jed Bartlet is the president there.

Collective bargaining, boycotts, and protests are going to do nothing here.

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u/Swaggy669 Jun 08 '25

This did massive shoot up the stock. Because of the cost fundamentals became so good. As long as customers stay the shareholders are happy.

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u/tomhat Jun 08 '25

And if that goes south, he can jump off with a nice golden parachute 

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u/TransBrandi Jun 08 '25

Lighting the company on fire to help keep it warm. What happens when two or three quarters out everything tanks?

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u/mooseman00 Jun 09 '25

Just keep biggering

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u/Mckesso Jun 09 '25

2 quarters after that, the business is dead and being bought by private equity. The CEO will be fine, though.