Starcast Join the waitlist
Pioneers of AI

Pioneers of AI

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

Jun 1, 2026 · 32m

Coming soon to iPhone. Already have it? “Listen in Starcast” takes you straight there.

On this episode

About this episode

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…