Big news from Duolingo! The language-learning app just dropped 148 brand-new language courses, all created using generative AI. That’s right — the same tech behind ChatGPT is now helping you roll your r’s, conjugate verbs, and maybe finally understand French grammar.
This massive update doubles Duolingo’s total course offerings, making it the company’s largest expansion ever. And the craziest part? What used to take over a decade to build now happened in less than a year — thanks to AI.
“Developing our first 100 courses took 12 years,” said CEO and co-founder Luis von Ahn. “Now, with AI, we’ve launched nearly 150 in just one year.”
So, What’s in the New Courses?
The fresh batch of courses is mostly aimed at beginners — perfect if you’ve been wanting to dip your toes into a new language without the stress. They come packed with fan-favorite features like:
– Stories: Short reading passages to build comprehension.
– DuoRadio: Audio lessons to sharpen your listening skills.
More advanced content is in the pipeline, so if you’re beyond “bonjour” and “gracias,” don’t worry — more challenging material is on the way.
But There’s Controversy, Too
Not everyone is clapping. While Duolingo is hyped about its AI revolution, some users are calling foul over the human cost. Earlier this week, the company shared plans to shift away from hiring human contractors — the folks who helped create content — and rely more heavily on AI tools.
An internal email from von Ahn said the company would “gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle” and hinted that job growth would only happen where automation can’t do the job.
He argues it’s all in the name of speed and access:
“Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content to more learners. We owe it to our users to get this content ASAP.”
Mixed Reactions from Users
As expected, social media had feelings. Some users are concerned that AI-written lessons might lead to mistakes, awkward phrasing, or lower-quality learning experiences. A few have even quit the app altogether and are urging others to do the same.
So, if you’re considering jumping into one of Duolingo’s shiny new courses, here’s the bottom line:
Should You Try the New AI Courses?
If you’re a beginner looking for an easy way to start learning a new language, these AI-created courses might be perfect. They’re fast, accessible, and backed by some seriously cool technology. But if you’re a long-time user who values human touch and carefully crafted lessons, it’s worth keeping an eye on how the content evolves — and whether Duolingo can keep quality high as AI takes the wheel.
Duolingo Just Dropped 148 New AI-Powered Language Courses — Here’s What You Need to Know
