Duolingo’s battle for learning in an AI world, with Luis von Ahn

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn navigates the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, emphasizing that long-term success requires prioritizing learner motivation over short-term revenue. Despite a controversial internal memo regarding AI integration, the company remains committed to using technology to enhance, rather than replace, human learning. By shifting focus in 2026 toward user growth, Duolingo aims to capture a larger share of the global population, leveraging gamified, playful marketing to sustain engagement. While AI offers significant productivity gains, it currently struggles with high-level creative polish and consistency, necessitating human oversight to avoid low-quality output. Ultimately, the most effective learning strategies rely on maintaining user stamina through fun and meaningful experiences, as the core challenge of education remains keeping people engaged in a world of constant digital distraction.