第一家因为“AI first”而被用户抛弃的公司出现了

Core Viewpoint - Duolingo's recent shift to an "AI-first" strategy has sparked significant backlash from users, leading to a marketing maneuver that involved clearing social media accounts to divert attention from the negative feedback regarding the replacement of human workers with AI [5][10][12]. Group 1: AI Transition and User Reaction - The transition to an "AI-first" strategy was officially announced by CEO Luis von Ahn in April 2025, which included plans to gradually replace contractors with AI for tasks that can be automated [10][12]. - Following the announcement, there was a notable increase in user dissatisfaction, with many users expressing their frustration on social media and even canceling subscriptions, leading to a wave of negative sentiment [12][13]. - Duolingo's attempt to create intrigue by clearing its social media accounts was seen as a strategy to shift focus away from the backlash against its AI transition [8][14]. Group 2: Financial Performance and Growth - Despite the backlash, Duolingo reported strong financial results, with Q1 2025 revenue reaching $230.7 million, a 38% year-over-year increase, and paid subscribers exceeding 10 million, up 40% [18][19]. - The company has significantly improved content production efficiency, claiming a tenfold increase in course development speed due to AI integration [19][20]. - However, while revenue has increased, the gross margin has slightly declined from 73% in 2023 to 71.9% in Q4 2024, attributed to the costs associated with AI operations [21]. Group 3: Quality of AI-Generated Content - Concerns have been raised regarding the quality of AI-generated content, with former content creators noting that AI lacks the ability to create engaging and culturally relevant learning materials [21][22]. - The narrative that AI is merely "empowering" rather than replacing human workers has been challenged, as the company's policies indicate that only non-automatable tasks will see an increase in human staffing [22][24]. - The broader implications of this shift highlight a tension between technological advancement and the human elements of language learning, which are essential for cultural understanding and connection [21][24].