- Duolingo is bringing more AI-powered modes with Adventures and Video Call
- The learning options join Explain My Answer and Roleplay, added earlier this year
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Language learning platform Duolingo is introducing an AI-powered game mode called Adventures.
Gamifying learning is a key part of Duolingo’s philosophy and Adventures will aim to immerse users as they practice different languages, meanwhile “pushing the boundaries of technology”.
AI is also being leveraged in a new Video Call feature which will see players engage in conversations with Duolingo character Lily.
Lily will respond to players in personalised, natural ways, bolstering interactivity and encouraging players to practice speaking another language without the pressure of a real-world conversation.
Learning with AI
The introduction of two new AI learning modes follows Duolingo’s contentious cutbacks in late 2023, which saw 10% of its contractors depart from the company.
Instead of just real translators working on the platform, Duolingo decided to shift towards AI translations and stated intentions to use the tech more on the content creation side too. The company proceeded to celebrate record profitability in its first quarter of 2024.
Duolingo Max was introduced this March as a subscription service using OpenAI’s GPT-4. Initially the tier gave users access to two AI-powered features, Explain My Answer and Roleplay, providing more opportunities to learn from mistakes and practice another language.
“We believe that AI and education make a great duo, and we’ve leveraged AI to help us deliver highly personalised language lessons, affordable and accessible English proficiency testing, and more,” the Duolingo team said at the time.
“Our mission to make high-quality education available to everyone in the world is made possible by advanced AI technology.”
Now, Adventures and Video Call are being added to the AI lineup. Video Call also serves as something of a step up from Roleplay – moving beyond written communication to offer verbal language practice in English, Spanish, and French. Like Roleplay, Video Call is available only to Duolingo Max subscribers.
Adventurous AI
Meanwhile, Adventures is a new AI mode set to give users storylines to explore and characters to encounter in a full Duolingo universe. The goal is to provide gamified but realistic scenarios for users to practice their language skills in, such as ordering drinks at a café and getting a passport checked.
“Our mission is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available,” said Duolingo co-founder and CEO Luis von Ahn.
“We believe the best way to do that is by continuously pushing the boundaries of technology. With new AI-powered features like Video Call and Adventures, we’re creating new, immersive ways to practice languages and build confidence.
“These innovations are just the beginning of how we’re leveraging technology to serve our global community of learners better.”
Adventures will be available on iOS and Android with no word as yet on browser compatibility. The mode is expected to appear during Duolingo’s Duocon 2024 later today.
