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Duolingo annunciate programme this workweek to replace contractors with AI andbecome an “ AI - first ” company — a move thatjournalist Brian Merchant steer toas a augury that the AI jobs crisis “ is here , now . ”
In fact , Merchant verbalise to a former Duolingo contractor who said this is n’t even a new insurance . The companycut around 10 % of its contractile organ workforceat the end of 2023 , and Merchant said there was another rhythm of cold shoulder in October 2024 . In both cases , contractor ( first transcriber , then author ) were replace with AI .
Merchant also noted reporting in The Atlantic aboutthe unusually high unemployment charge per unit for late college graduates . One explanation ? Companies might be replace submission - level white - choker jobs with AI , or their spending on AI might plainly be “ push out ” the disbursement for young hire .
This crisis , Merchant wrote , is really “ a serial publication of direction decision being made by executives look for to contract labor cost and consolidate control in their constitution , ” and it ’s manifest as “ attrition in creative industries , the turn down income of freelance artists , writers , and illustrators , and in corporations ’ inclination to plainly charter few human proletarian . ”
“ The AI jobs crisis is not any variety of Skynet - esque robot job apocalypse — it’sDOGE can tens of G of Union employeeswhile wave the banner of ‘ an AI - first scheme , ’ ” he bring .
