Welcome to today’s episode, where we dive into an alarming trend highlighted by TechCrunch regarding the impact of AI on jobs. Duolingo recently announced its shift to become an "AI-first" company, planning to replace contractors with artificial intelligence. Journalist Brian Merchant emphasizes that this move signals the AI jobs crisis is upon us.

Former Duolingo contractors revealed that this isn’t just a new policy; back in late 2023, the company already cut about 10% of its contractor workforce, initially replacing translators and later writers with AI. This trend coincides with rising unemployment rates among recent college graduates. Merchant suggests that companies might be using AI to replace entry-level roles, which may displace new hires from the job market entirely.

He argues that this crisis stems from "a series of management decisions" aimed at slashing labor costs. As companies consolidate control, we see the ramifications: attrition in creative fields, declining incomes for freelancers, and fewer human workers being hired overall. Merchant concludes this isn’t about an imminent robot takeover, but rather a corporate strategy to prioritize AI at a human cost. Stay tuned for more insights on the evolving landscape of work.
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