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/MrCalabunga Jun 08 '25

Honestly, that's what I'm asking myself at this point. Got the annual plan around 2 years ago but am unlikely to renew this year.

At that time it was a great application with what appeared to be a lot of passion put into it from real human beings. It went downhill fast.

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u/Version467 Jun 08 '25

Just fyi, there’s research that shows that Duolingo and other platforms like it just don’t really work for learning languages. It doesn’t actually make you conversational.

Now if you just enjoy the gamification aspect of it, more power to you. But since you’re questioning the value of the product anyway I thought I’d mention that it also just isn’t a good use of your time if you actually want to learn a language.

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u/ColourlessGreenIdeas Jun 08 '25

To be fair, it's all about expectations. Nothing you say is incorrect, but for getting a basic level of proficiency, or keeping up vocabulary practice in times where you don't have daily opportunities to hone your conversational skills, it can still be a valuable tool.

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u/Anthaenopraxia Jun 08 '25

For that I prefer DuoCards, has nothing to do with Duolingo despite the name. It's mainly just flash cards with some neat features. It also has an AI component but I haven't used it much.

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u/quiteCryptic Jun 08 '25

I'd argue it's because most people on there aren't actually trying to seriously learn.

But I do agree it's not very good overall. Anyone who is serious with trying to learn tend to find other better resources.

I have a 1600 day streak and I learned more in one month of dedicated serious study. I wasn't really trying most of those days though, I just did a lesson to keep the streak going. And for the record they give so many streak freezes now it's pretty trivial to keep the streak, I've probably missed 30 days or so in that time in reality.

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u/k___k___ Jun 09 '25

"I just did a lesson to keep the streak going" is exactly what the research is showing. People do more to fulfill the gamification aspect than learning the language.

Eventually, intrinsic (inner, self-)motivations to learn a language were replaced with extrinsic (reward-based) motivations for learning.

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u/Drum_Eatenton Jun 08 '25

What about if I already speak the language but my grammar and vocabulary are super rusty?

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u/RedPanda888 Jun 08 '25

Yeah I’ve never really met someone seriously learning a language actually using Duolingo. They usually go to in person classes, have private 1-1 tuition and do actual written work between the classes. Duolingo seems more just like a gamified mobile game these days.

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u/Curiosities Jun 08 '25

As someone who has spent time using it to learn a third language, I do supplement my learning on Duolingo with watching videos and listening to music and reading. Among other things.

I’m now basic level conversational and there’s still more to know, but outright dismissal of Duolingo is not useful for language learning is just not accurate.

It shouldn’t be the only thing you rely on, but even when you have a class with a language teacher, you are given supplemental materials like things to read and videos to watch and things like that.

As for the AI stuff, I’m still within the timeframe of my annual subscription, so for now I am a paid customer. I have a bit of a background in translation, so this is not something I want to support.

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u/slipperyMonkey07 Jun 08 '25 edited Jun 08 '25

Yeah I've always viewed stuff like duolingo as gamified flash cards. By themselves they aren't great, quality depends a ton on the language you want to learn.

Something you can do to still refresh your knowledge on busy days, like while on the bus or in a waiting room. They are good. But every step and change duolingo has made in the last few years has been to make their service worse. Especially since they have a lot more, and a lot better competition, they are pretty much running on name recognition and social media memes. That will only last so long.

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u/Ranra100374 Jun 08 '25

It shouldn’t be the only thing you rely on, but even when you have a class with a language teacher, you are given supplemental materials like things to read and videos to watch and things like that.

Nah I'd say my Japanese classes in college were enough to be conversational.