Due in part to artificial intelligence, Duolingo, a Pittsburgh-based company, has downsized some of its contractor workforce.
The East Liberty-headquartered company stated that approximately 10% of its staff had been “off-boarded.” Duolingo clarified that while AI technology was assisting with certain tasks, in other cases, the contracted work had been completed.
In an interview with a media outlet at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sam Dalsimer, Duolingo’s global head of communications, emphasized that while AI plays a role in streamlining their workforce, attributing the layoffs solely to AI would be an oversimplification. Dalsimer highlighted the diverse applications of AI across their operations.
Duolingo, known for offering language classes in 40 different languages, disclosed that some content creation, including stories and translations, is now facilitated by artificial intelligence.
Recognized as one of Time’s 100 most influential companies globally in 2023, Duolingo’s innovative use of AI was a contributing factor to its prestigious ranking, as mentioned during the summer. The company’s founder and CEO, Luis von Ahn, envisions leveraging advanced AI to democratize access to high-quality education worldwide.
On a separate note, Michael Guise, a web developer affiliated with KDKA-Television, has been a part of the team since 2019.
