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Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn on AI, User Motivation, and Expanding Beyond Languages

Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn —Courtesy DuolingoWhen Luis von Ahn was 8 years old, growing up in Guatemala City, his mother bought him a computer. He was upset because he actually wanted a Nintendo, he recalls. “But you know, it changed my life because I learned how to use a computer.” Developing that skill eventually led to his creation of the educational app Duolingo, which is used by millions around the world to learn languages, and now other subjects, such as math and music. The company went public in 2021 and is currently valued at $5.7 billion. “Education has always been a big thing for me,”...