Billionaire Sips Margaritas While Predicting AI

Will Displace the Most Vulnerable Workers

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn openly supports AI even if it means replacing workers. Discover how automation is reshaping the job market, and who’s most at risk.

Luis von Ahn, the billionaire CEO and founder of Duolingo, recently shared his unfiltered views on the issue while sipping margaritas and eating tacos al pastor with Forbes. According to him, AI’s impact on workers, especially those who are underprivileged or undereducated, is unavoidable.

Duolingo Replaces Contractors With AI

In January, Duolingo abruptly ended contracts for hourly workers tasked with designing new translation structures. These workers weren’t laid-off full-time employees, but the move still marked a shift in how the company views human input.

Von Ahn credited the rise of AI for this decision. In a shareholder letter last November, he wrote, “Generative AI is accelerating our work by helping us create new content dramatically faster.”

He told Forbes, “We had some hourly contractors doing pretty rote stuff,” suggesting that automation made their roles obsolete. Von Ahn emphasised that automating full-time employees is far more difficult, but that didn’t spare contractors from being replaced.

A Tough Future for the Disadvantaged

What about people outside the boardroom?

Von Ahn didn’t shy away from admitting who will suffer most in this AI-driven world. “It’s a tough situation that’ll affect the poor, the less educated,” he said. “And not just in the U.S., but in poor countries, too.”

His candour illustrates a troubling dynamic in the AI revolution, while CEOs enjoy cocktails and profitability, workers at the bottom risk being discarded in favour of more efficient machines.

A Techno-Optimist’s Vision

Von Ahn has long embraced AI. He has even suggested that AI might surpass human teachers in effectiveness. Duolingo recently launched an AI-powered video chat feature where users can practice speaking with Lily, the app’s animated owl mascot.

But what happens if Lily malfunctions like other chatbots that spiral into offensive or bizarre behaviours?

Von Ahn said he’s “prepared” for potential controversies. If Lily “gets into, say, some Nazi stuff,” he told Forbes, the company will deal with the fallout. That nonchalant attitude speaks volumes about the industry’s approach: launch fast, deal with consequences later.

The Growing Divide Between Rich and Poor

Since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in late 2022, experts have debated AI’s effect on employment. Goldman Sachs estimated in 2023 that AI could threaten 300 million jobs globally.

Tech CEOs like Von Ahn won’t be among the casualties. They’ll keep their positions and wealth while millions of vulnerable workers face redundancy. Von Ahn’s admission makes it clear: AI won’t hit everyone equally.

Can AI Replace Human Teachers?

The jury is still out on whether AI can genuinely replace educators. Experts remain sceptical. Elizabeth Birr Moje, dean of the Marsal Family School of Education at the University of Michigan, told Forbes that AI cannot read emotions.

“It cannot see if a student is experiencing frustration. It cannot see body language, see joy,” she said. The human element of teaching remains irreplaceable, no matter how sophisticated the algorithm.

Ethical Concerns Around AI in Education

Using AI in classrooms raises critical ethical questions. Should tech companies automate roles that support learning, especially in communities already underserved? When contractors lose jobs due to automation, who’s accountable?

Von Ahn’s comments reflect a Silicon Valley mindset that prioritises scale and efficiency over social impact. The more AI advances, the more pressing it becomes to address these questions head-on.

Final Thoughts: A Warning in Plain Sight

Luis von Ahn has made his stance clear: AI is here to stay, and not everyone will benefit equally. While his company rolls out shiny new tools and features, workers behind the scenes may find themselves replaced without notice.

Tech leaders like Von Ahn don’t intend to slow down. For them, AI is the future, and human labour is just another cost to cut. The rest of us must decide whether to accept that future or challenge it.