Duolingo is undergoing a major internal restructuring as it pivots toward becoming an “AI-first” company, CEO and co-founder Luis von Ahn announced in a memo shared on LinkedIn.

The language learning platform will lean heavily on artificial intelligence to automate tasks, accelerate content creation, and boost operational efficiency across teams. As part of this shift, Duolingo will phase out contractors in roles AI can now handle and factor AI proficiency into performance evaluations and hiring decisions.

“AI isn’t just a productivity boost—it helps us get closer to our mission,” von Ahn wrote, emphasizing that scaling content manually is no longer feasible. Without automation, he added, producing enough educational material would take decades.

The company has already launched AI-powered features, including a generative AI-based video call tutoring tool designed to mimic the effectiveness of human instructors. Beyond product development, all business units will be required to integrate AI into their daily workflows under what von Ahn terms “constructive constraints”—guidelines that require teams to explore automation before requesting more resources.

Despite the changes, Duolingo insists the goal is not to replace employees, but to free them from repetitive tasks and enable more creative, strategic work. The company also said it will continue investing in training and tools to help staff adapt to this AI-driven transformation.