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

About this episode

Luis von Ahn discusses Duolingo's approach to AI and its implications for the future of learning and business strategy.

When Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn sent an internal memo about AI last year, he didn't expect it to go viral — or to ignite a firestorm about the future of work. Now he joins Rapid Response to unpack what he got right, what he got wrong, and what the backlash taught him about the real limitations of AI. Von Ahn also reveals why he's made a deliberate pivot in 2026: chasing users, not revenue — and what that bet says about how big Duolingo can get before ads become inevitable. It's a candid reckoning with hype, growth, and the surprisingly complicated promise of technology in education. Visit the Rapid Response website here:  https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Guest: Luis von Ahn

Topics covered

• AI in education
• business strategy
• technology limitations
• user growth
• revenue models

Keywords

• Duolingo
• AI
• Luis von Ahn
• education technology
• business growth
• revenue strategy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Duolingo, Rapid Response, WaitWhat

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