This podcast episode explores the ingenious approaches of Luis von Ahn, the inventor of CAPTCHA, and Duolingo, the language learning app, in utilizing human effort to solve complex problems. From turning CAPTCHA into a way to digitize books to providing free language education to millions, these innovations demonstrate the power of collaborative efforts and the potential for technology to make a positive impact on society. The episode also raises questions about the incentivization structure in academia and the accessibility and value of academic research.