Published an "AI-first" internal memo in April 2025 announcing Duolingo would "gradually stop using contractors to do work AI can handle" and only hire if teams couldn't automate more work. Sparked backlash, with von Ahn clarifying: "We've never laid off any full-time employees. We don't plan to." By September 2025, no full-time layoffs had occurred and employees were producing 4-5x more content.