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☆ Duolingo put its sarcastic teen chatbot to work on its earnings call
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Duolingo's Wednesday earnings call started with an AI chatbot demonstration. The chatbot, Lily, summarized the company's performance this quarter. The purple-haired chatbot, which sounded like a bored, sarcastic teenager, replaced CEO Luis von Ahn at the beginning of the video call. "Our new Duolingo Max feature video call lets learners chat with me," the chatbot said. AdvertisementWhile Lily was largely a gimmick for the earnings call, the impact of AI has been a persistent theme in earnings this year.

Persons: Lily, Duolingo, —, Luis von Ahn, Von Ahn, OpenAI's, Piper Sandler's Arvind Ramnani, Gen, didn't Organizations: Service, Meta, Microsoft

An ‘embellished’ closing argumentTrump’s and Harris’ closing messages have seemingly been playing through a bullhorn on loop around Pennsylvania these final weeks. “No matter who wins, it will be narrow,” said Eugene DePasquale, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania attorney general. “If Harris wins, I think you’re going to say we offered a different vision for the country moving forward. And there was finally … a wanting to turn the page from Trump.”“If it goes the other way,” he continued. Her advertising has been heavily focused on her proposal to combat price gouging and cost increases that Pennsylvanians could face because of wide-ranging tariffs Trump wants to impose.

Persons: Harris, ” Trump, Sen, Bob Casey, ”, Abbott, ” Harris, Trump, Richard Perini, Eugene DePasquale, Donald Trump’s, Clinton, Luis von Ahn, “, she’s, “ I’m, Josh Shapiro, ” Shapiro Organizations: Trump, Democratic, Trump’s State College, Republicans, ”, Carnegie Mellon University Locations: Pennsylvania, Lititz, U.S, Harrisburg, Westmoreland County, Pittsburgh

☆ Duolingo's AI-Driven Approach Is Redefining Language Learning
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Helen Li | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Luis von Ahn is the cofounder and CEO of Duolingo, a popular language-learning app with more than 31 million monthly active users. Von Ahn led the development of "Birdbrain", a machine learning model that estimates a user's language proficiency and then personalizes exercises. In 2023, Duolingo launched a new "Max" tier for its language-learning users. This year, Duolingo launched a Video Call feature where learners can practice talking in real time with an AI character. Von Ahn is a former computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University and the co-inventor of CAPTCHAs, the way to determine if a computer user is human.

Persons: Luis von Ahn, Von Ahn, Duolingo Organizations: Carnegie Mellon University

☆ Duolingo CEO explains his approach to 'founder mode' — and what happens when executives disagree
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-16 | by ( Jaures Yip | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn talked about his data-driven approach to "founder mode." A debate over founder mode was recently sparked by Paul Graham's essay advocating hands-on leadership. AdvertisementAmid the wider debate in Silicon Valley about how a CEO should run their company, Duolingo's chief executive is siding with a data-driven approach to founder mode. "Yes, I am in that mode, but we have a number of people who could probably play that role as well," von Ahn said when asked about founder mode. While this my-way-or-the-highway approach feels very indicative of founder mode, arguments rarely happen between the three executives, von Ahn said in the interview.

Persons: Luis von Ahn, Paul Graham's, —, He's, Cem Kansu, Ryan Sims, von Ahn, Paul Graham, Graham, Brian Chesky, Von Ahn, Duolingo, let's, Sims Organizations: Service Locations: Silicon Valley

☆ Duolingo's CEO explains the move to bring employees back to the office — and why he thinks he avoided backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Duolingo's CEO said being in the office is key for brainstorming. In an interview on The Verge's "Decoder" podcast, Luis von Ahn said that employees must come into the office three days a week. "Most of what we do is creative stuff," von Ahn told "Decoder." While RTO mandates have proved massively unpopular elsewhere, von Ahn said the transition at Duolingo was smooth because the company consistently managed expectations. When it first went remote, von Ahn said he told employees — and new hires — that they would eventually be going back to the office.

Persons: —, Luis von Ahn, von Ahn, Duolingo Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Pittsburgh, New York City, Detroit, Seattle, Berlin, Beijing

☆ AI enhances conversational language learning, says Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailAI enhances conversational language learning, says Duolingo CEO Luis von AhnDuolingo CEO Luis von Ahn joins CNBC's 'The Exchange' to discuss AI's impact on language learning, the potential for disruption, and more.

Persons: Luis von Ahn

☆ A fake job listing for an 'owl trainer' for the Duolingo mascot has gone viral. It includes hilarious tasks like bathing the bird in Evian water and coordinating his Nobu meals.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A fake "owl trainer" job post for Duolingo's famous mascot lists some hilarious responsibilities. Language-learning software company Duolingo is advertising a job opening for an "owl trainer" to work with its iconic mascot. The candidate should be prepared to deal with the "sassy, unhinged, and downright extravagant lifestyle" of Duo the owl, the job post says. We need your help…please help us," the job post reads at the end. Duolingo also wants "30+ years of experience in an identical position" for the owl trainer.

Persons: —, shouldn't, Duolingo, hasn't, Jocelyn Lai, Luis von Ahn's Organizations: Evian, Service, Dua Locations: Evian, Dua Lipa

☆ Guatemala elections: Troubled vote looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Torres won 16% of the first-round vote in June with Arévalo coming in with 11.8% of the votes cast. “Guatemalans wanted an option on the ballot where they can vote to reject the current political system. Moises Castillo/APThis is the third presidential cycle Torres has competed in, losing in 2019 to current President Alejandro Giammattei. Guatemala currently recognizes Taiwan, and Arévalo has said he would like Guatemala to have relations with both Taipei and Beijing. Congress is set to be largely controlled by establishment parties following this year’s elections, including the outgoing president’s Vamos party and Torres’ UNE.

Persons: CNN —, Sandra Torres, Bernardo Arévalo –, Torres, Arévalo, “ Guatemalans, ” Will Freeman, backsliding, Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Reuters Arévalo, Rafael Curruchiche, ” Curruchiche, “, ” Freeman, Bukele, Alvaro Colom, Moises Castillo, Alejandro Giammattei, Juan José Arévalo, Freeman, Thelma Aldana, Aldana, Luis Von Ahn, Torres ’ Organizations: CNN, Council, Foreign Relations, United, Public Ministry, Reuters, Movimiento Semilla, US State Department, US, European, Unidad Nacional de la Esperanza, Getty, Duolingo, Torres ’ UNE Locations: backsliding, Guatemala, America, United Nations, Guatemala City, Spain, European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, El Salvador, Taiwan, Taipei, Beijing

☆ Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn on Q2 earnings beat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDuolingo CEO Luis von Ahn on Q2 earnings beatDuolingo CEO Luis von Ahn joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss the company's Q2 earnings results, what's driving the stock's rally, and Duolingo's expansion plans.

Persons: Luis von Ahn, what's

☆ Guatemala anti-graft candidate Arevalo seen winning presidential runoff -poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Sofia Menchu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Anti-graft presidential candidate of the Semilla political party Bernardo Arevalo holds a campaign rally ahead of the presidential run-off, in Sumpango, Guatemala, July 16, 2023. REUTERS/Cristina Chiquin/File PhotoGUATEMALA CITY, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Guatemalan presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo is seen winning an Aug. 20 runoff election with 63% of valid votes against his rival, Sandra Torres, according to a CID Gallup poll published on Wednesday by a local think tank. Arevalo won a surprise second place in the initial round in June, finishing close behind Torres, a former first lady. CID Gallup's poll found that 54% of respondents considered Torres "corrupt" and a "liar," compared to 15% and 13%, respectively, for Arevalo. Arevalo led the poll in every age group, region, and education level.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Cristina Chiquin, Sandra Torres, Arevalo, Torres, Luis Von Ahn, Sofia Menchu, Raul Cortes, Sarah Morland, Stephen Eisenhammer, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, GUATEMALA CITY, Gallup, of American, CID, Liberty and Development Foundation, Thomson Locations: Sumpango, Guatemala, GUATEMALA, Arevalo, Guatemalan

☆ A.I. becoming major tailwind for Duolingo, says CEO Luis von Ahn
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailA.I. becoming major tailwind for Duolingo, says CEO Luis von AhnDuolingo CEO Luis von Ahn joins 'The Exchange' to discuss how advances in A.I. are supporting Duolingo's teaching practices, new Duolingo features, and the cost dynamics of A.I. integration.

☆ Alphabet venture arm CapitalG names Laela Sturdy new head of firm, David Lawee steps aside
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CapitalG partner Laela Sturdy is on track to be one of the year's biggest investors. Alphabet's growth stage venture arm, CapitalG, has named Laela Sturdy its new leader. The move means CapitalG will be one of the few venture firms to be led by a female partner. Generally speaking, CapitalG invests a lot like other growth-stage firms, but with only one limited partner as an investor -- its parent company, Alphabet. "I would say the value Laela has provided has been significantly higher than the money anyone's provided″ Duolingo CEO Luis Von Ahn told CNBC at the time.

☆ Duolingo is hiring across all of its teams. The company's global head of talent says it looks for 2 traits in all candidates.
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-13 | by ( Rachel Durose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Duolingo has just over 500 employees, according to Jocelyn Lai, global head of talent acquisition. To land a job at the growing company, candidates should also be an expert in their craft, she added. According to Jocelyn Lai, global head of talent acquisition, quirkiness is one of two core traits — along with caring — she and her team look for in Duolingo job candidates. Despite the company's quirkiness, the talent team is still looking for highly skilled talent. For Duolingo, that means looking for candidates with a "level of craft," meaning heightened precision or mastery.

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