Luis Von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, reassured employees that the company does not intend to lay off full-time staff despite implementing an 'AI-first' strategy. Following backlash to a memo, he clarified that while contractor numbers may fluctuate based on needs, salaried staff will not be reduced. The strategy emphasizes a gradual reduction in contractor roles for tasks that can be automated by AI. Von Ahn stated that the focus will be on allowing employees to accomplish more rather than reducing the workforce.
This was on me. I did not give enough context. We've never laid off any full-time employees. We don't plan to.
From the beginning, we've had contractors that we use for temporary tasks, and our contractor force has gone up and down depending on needs.
What will probably happen is that one person will be able to accomplish more, rather than having fewer people.
After receiving backlash this April for a staff memo posted on LinkedIn detailing the company's 'AI first' strategy, the tech leader clarified that the $16.8 billion language app doesn't plan to fire full-time staffers.
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