Scary new AI trend should terrify job seekers

Something that many people have been worried about for years seems to already be happening, though it may not be obvious.

For years, people have wondered if artificial intelligence (AI) systems will ultimately take their jobs, rendering huge portions of the human workforce obsolete. Since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 kicked off the current chatbot revolution, these fears have accelerated as companies have gradually begun to replace humans with AI.

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Experts such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates have speculated that AI will replace most jobs in the coming years, predicting that people won’t be needed for the majority of tasks. Other tech leaders, including Mark Cuban, have issued contrasting takes, citing the need for humans to oversee AI systems.

However, someone else predicts that the long-predicted AI jobs crisis isn’t coming; it’s here. He points toward recent news from a popular startup as proof.

A trendy tech startup’s news may not be what it seems

Over the past year, plenty of tech companies have announced layoffs, a trend that seems to have accelerated since President Donald Trump took office. With economic conditions looking increasingly uncertain, business leaders see a clear need to prioritize efficiency and reduce expenses when possible.

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With that in mind, Duolingo’s  (DUOL)  recent restructuring announcement may not have turned many heads at first. After all, the popular language learning app has announced layoffs before, hinting at a gradual pivot toward an AI-centric operational model as its popularity booms.

However, company CEO Luis von Ahn recently laid out plans for a major overhaul, touting the need for Duolingo to become “AI-first.” As he put it, this means replacing human contracts with AI, as only machines can produce the amount of content that the company needs to keep growing.

“Without AI, it would take us decades to scale our content to more learners. We owe it to our learners to get them this content ASAP,” the CEO stated in an all-hands email shared on the company’s LinkedIn page.

The CEO attempted to frame this decision as being strictly in the best interest of the app’s users, claiming “this is not about replacing Duos with AI” but about creating a system in which remaining staffers can do their jobs in a more efficient manner. However, someone impacted by the company’s plans claims von Ahn is providing inaccurate information.

Technology correspondent and author Brian Merchant recently published a detailed report on this topic after speaking to a former Duolingo contractor who claimed the company has been replacing workers with AI for years, despite von Ahn framing it as a new and gradual initiative.

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The source notes that the company has already replaced at least one hundred workers with AI systems, primarily translators and writers who create the company’s engaging language learning content.

Merchant highlights the seriousness of these findings, stating, “This is a glimpse of the AI jobs crisis that is unfolding right now — not in the distant future — and that’s already more pervasive than we might think.”

Duolingo may be the canary in the coal mine for the AI jobs crisis

At first glance, Duolingo’s news may not be surprising, and it may not even seem that frightening on the surface. On some level, most people understand that AI is ultimately coming for most jobs and that the technology is advancing quickly.

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But as Merchant lays out, one company maneuvering behind the scenes to phase out human workers likely means that others are doing the same or will be soon. And as he highlights, this trend could pose scary consequences for job seekers, especially those who are struggling to break into their chosen field.

Citing a recent report from The Atlantic, Merchant notes a highly concerning trend that should worry early-career job seekers. The unemployment rate for recent college graduates isn’t just high, it’s “historically high in relation to the general unemployment rate.”

He speculates that this could be due to companies hiring fewer college graduates and replacing them with AI, a trend that is likely to accelerate, compromising the employment prospects in an already-complicated economy.

Harvard University economist David Deming echoes this sentiment. “When you think from first principles about what generative AI can do, and what jobs it can replace, it’s the kind of things that young college grads have done,” he states. 

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