Duolingo Embraces AI, Raising Job Displacement Concerns
Duolingo's recent announcement to prioritize AI and replace contractors has ignited discussions about a potential AI-driven job crisis. This move follows previous contractor layoffs in 2023 and 2024, where translators and writers were replaced by AI technology.
Journalist Brian Merchant highlights Duolingo as a prime example of this emerging trend. He argues that this "AI-first" strategy reflects a broader series of management decisions aimed at reducing labor costs. This shift, he suggests, contributes to attrition in creative industries and declining income for freelancers.
Impact on Entry-Level and Creative Roles
Merchant connects this trend with the unusually high unemployment rate among recent college graduates. He suggests companies may be substituting entry-level positions with AI or prioritizing AI spending over new hires.
The impact extends to creative fields, with writers, artists, and illustrators experiencing income reduction as companies increasingly rely on AI tools.
A Larger Trend?
Merchant emphasizes that this isn't a futuristic robot apocalypse scenario. Instead, it's a present reality driven by cost-cutting and automation strategies. He cites examples of organizations reducing human workers in favor of AI solutions.
This raises crucial questions about the future of work and the potential widespread impact of AI on various industries.
For more information on Duolingo's AI initiatives, see their announcement here. Brian Merchant's analysis of the AI job crisis can be found here. The Atlantic's report on high graduate unemployment is available here.
