Have you used Duolingo? Do you think that their approach to AI will ultimately lead to better learning? What do you think of the author’s use of the word ‘humanize’ to describe the application of AI to their software? Do you think the fact that the training data used is largely from English language learners will impact the user experience for other languages?
I have used Duolingo on and off for several years now. I use it as a tool to pick up quick bits of a language if and find it to be a fun way to do it. I have tried watching videos to learn a language in the past but I find with my attention span now I need something to be a bit more interactive. The engagement of Duolingo is some I have not experienced with other online language education. Here are examples of the types of interactive learning Duolingo offers:
I personally believe that the AI, although frighteningly human, will enhance the learning experience. It can be terrifying to me that I put all my data (mistakes, learning habits, etc) into apps. But creating a space where learning a language can be learned through a game on your phone to pass the time can offer a great tool.
Getting children motivated to learn a language could be rewarding through Duolingo as well. I think that they would enjoy the AI narrative of having a bird guide you along the way and give you points.
Duolingo is not yet accessible to all languages and learners. The training data has been used largely by English speaking users and therefore there is not available to many people.
