Greg Rosalsky

You're probably familiar with it, when a website forces you to prove you're human and asks you to do things like identify stoplights or bicycles or whatever in a grid of photographs. I didn't know this until I spoke to him, but CAPTCHA is actually an acronym.

You're probably familiar with it, when a website forces you to prove you're human and asks you to do things like identify stoplights or bicycles or whatever in a grid of photographs. I didn't know this until I spoke to him, but CAPTCHA is actually an acronym.

Luis's work on CAPTCHA is one reason why he was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant back in 2006. At the time, he was only 28. How do you stay humble after that?

Luis's work on CAPTCHA is one reason why he was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant back in 2006. At the time, he was only 28. How do you stay humble after that?

Well, that's honest.

Well, that's honest.

Back when he first co-created CAPTCHA, Luis says, the test was pretty simple. It was, you know, easier to trip up machines. At first, all it took was identifying squiggly letters and numbers.

Back when he first co-created CAPTCHA, Luis says, the test was pretty simple. It was, you know, easier to trip up machines. At first, all it took was identifying squiggly letters and numbers.

Interestingly, Luis says, these are images that are often taken by self-driving cars. The computer guiding these cars sometimes has a hard time deciphering what these images are, which is why CAPTCHA crowdsources help from humans. This data is, in other words, kind of slowly making AI smarter.

Interestingly, Luis says, these are images that are often taken by self-driving cars. The computer guiding these cars sometimes has a hard time deciphering what these images are, which is why CAPTCHA crowdsources help from humans. This data is, in other words, kind of slowly making AI smarter.

So yeah, Luis is a pretty interesting guy to talk to about AI, not only because of his work on CAPTCHA, but also because earlier this year, there were a series of headlines suggesting that his company Duolingo laid off human workers and replaced them with AI. Okay, so here is today's bonus episode, my conversation with Luis Van An.

So yeah, Luis is a pretty interesting guy to talk to about AI, not only because of his work on CAPTCHA, but also because earlier this year, there were a series of headlines suggesting that his company Duolingo laid off human workers and replaced them with AI. Okay, so here is today's bonus episode, my conversation with Luis Van An.

i want to start with jobs in language translation so i've seen a lot of these popular listicles in the media that highlight the 10 most likely jobs to be like killed by ai and basically on all of these lists are the jobs of translators interpreters and yet the u.s bureau of labor statistics projects that over the next decade the number of american translators interpreters will actually grow by four percent which is about equal to the average growth of all occupations

i want to start with jobs in language translation so i've seen a lot of these popular listicles in the media that highlight the 10 most likely jobs to be like killed by ai and basically on all of these lists are the jobs of translators interpreters and yet the u.s bureau of labor statistics projects that over the next decade the number of american translators interpreters will actually grow by four percent which is about equal to the average growth of all occupations

And I also took a look at job sites, and there are still tons of companies hiring translators, interpreters right now. So what's up here? If AI is so good, why are translating jobs actually still growing?

And I also took a look at job sites, and there are still tons of companies hiring translators, interpreters right now. So what's up here? If AI is so good, why are translating jobs actually still growing?

So does Duolingo employ translators and interpreters? And if so, how many or about how many?

So does Duolingo employ translators and interpreters? And if so, how many or about how many?

What do they do at your company?

What do they do at your company?

So in other words, because AI can make mistakes because you know, it's not perfect. You need humans. It's worth the extra cost.

So in other words, because AI can make mistakes because you know, it's not perfect. You need humans. It's worth the extra cost.

So earlier this year, there were a number of articles, actually quite a few, including in the Washington Post. They were published and they made a really big deal out of the fact that Duolingo laid off, I guess, some contractors who specialized in translation and replaced them with AI. So first off, what can you tell us about that episode? Did you lay off translators and replace them with AI?

So earlier this year, there were a number of articles, actually quite a few, including in the Washington Post. They were published and they made a really big deal out of the fact that Duolingo laid off, I guess, some contractors who specialized in translation and replaced them with AI. So first off, what can you tell us about that episode? Did you lay off translators and replace them with AI?

Like 10% of your workforce or something?

Like 10% of your workforce or something?

So supercharging productivity.

So supercharging productivity.

When did Duolingo start using AI and how have you been using it?

When did Duolingo start using AI and how have you been using it?

So when did you adopt large language models?

So when did you adopt large language models?

Is this an official partnership with OpenAI?

Is this an official partnership with OpenAI?

It allows you to chat in real time on the app?

It allows you to chat in real time on the app?

Recently, I've been trying to figure out how to measure if AI is overhyped right now, or maybe it's appropriately hyped. I don't know. And one of the people I talked to about this is an entrepreneur and AI innovator.

Recently, I've been trying to figure out how to measure if AI is overhyped right now, or maybe it's appropriately hyped. I don't know. And one of the people I talked to about this is an entrepreneur and AI innovator.

So a couple of weeks ago, when OpenAI recently released GPT-4.0, they really highlighted to the world how great it is at translation. It was really kind of front row and center of how they were selling this new... version of it. And they showed a smartphone using GPT-4.0 translating a conversation between people in real time. Are you concerned at all that it will reduce the demand for Duolingo?

So a couple of weeks ago, when OpenAI recently released GPT-4.0, they really highlighted to the world how great it is at translation. It was really kind of front row and center of how they were selling this new... version of it. And they showed a smartphone using GPT-4.0 translating a conversation between people in real time. Are you concerned at all that it will reduce the demand for Duolingo?

The fact that these are getting so good?

The fact that these are getting so good?

So last question. Do you have worries about AI? Are you optimistic? Like, how would you characterize your feelings, your belief about AI? Yeah.

So last question. Do you have worries about AI? Are you optimistic? Like, how would you characterize your feelings, your belief about AI? Yeah.

And it seems to be happening that way with translators, interpreters. You've said this has been one of the frontiers of AI research and development.

And it seems to be happening that way with translators, interpreters. You've said this has been one of the frontiers of AI research and development.

Duolingo, it's the popular language learning app. Luis has a pretty fascinating background. He was born and raised in Guatemala, and he came to the United States for college to study mathematics and computer science. In his early 20s, Luis co-created Captcha.

Duolingo, it's the popular language learning app. Luis has a pretty fascinating background. He was born and raised in Guatemala, and he came to the United States for college to study mathematics and computer science. In his early 20s, Luis co-created Captcha.

All right. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.

All right. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.

You're probably familiar with it, when a website forces you to prove you're human and asks you to do things like identify stoplights or bicycles or whatever in a grid of photographs. I didn't know this until I spoke to him, but CAPTCHA is actually an acronym.

Luis's work on CAPTCHA is one reason why he was awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant back in 2006. At the time, he was only 28. How do you stay humble after that?

Well, that's honest.

Back when he first co-created CAPTCHA, Luis says, the test was pretty simple. It was, you know, easier to trip up machines. At first, all it took was identifying squiggly letters and numbers.

Interestingly, Luis says, these are images that are often taken by self-driving cars. The computer guiding these cars sometimes has a hard time deciphering what these images are, which is why CAPTCHA crowdsources help from humans. This data is, in other words, kind of slowly making AI smarter.

So yeah, Luis is a pretty interesting guy to talk to about AI, not only because of his work on CAPTCHA, but also because earlier this year, there were a series of headlines suggesting that his company Duolingo laid off human workers and replaced them with AI. Okay, so here is today's bonus episode, my conversation with Luis Van An.

i want to start with jobs in language translation so i've seen a lot of these popular listicles in the media that highlight the 10 most likely jobs to be like killed by ai and basically on all of these lists are the jobs of translators interpreters and yet the u.s bureau of labor statistics projects that over the next decade the number of american translators interpreters will actually grow by four percent which is about equal to the average growth of all occupations

And I also took a look at job sites, and there are still tons of companies hiring translators, interpreters right now. So what's up here? If AI is so good, why are translating jobs actually still growing?

So does Duolingo employ translators and interpreters? And if so, how many or about how many?

What do they do at your company?

So in other words, because AI can make mistakes because you know, it's not perfect. You need humans. It's worth the extra cost.

So earlier this year, there were a number of articles, actually quite a few, including in the Washington Post. They were published and they made a really big deal out of the fact that Duolingo laid off, I guess, some contractors who specialized in translation and replaced them with AI. So first off, what can you tell us about that episode? Did you lay off translators and replace them with AI?

Like 10% of your workforce or something?

So supercharging productivity.

When did Duolingo start using AI and how have you been using it?

So when did you adopt large language models?

Is this an official partnership with OpenAI?

It allows you to chat in real time on the app?

Recently, I've been trying to figure out how to measure if AI is overhyped right now, or maybe it's appropriately hyped. I don't know. And one of the people I talked to about this is an entrepreneur and AI innovator.

So a couple of weeks ago, when OpenAI recently released GPT-4.0, they really highlighted to the world how great it is at translation. It was really kind of front row and center of how they were selling this new... version of it. And they showed a smartphone using GPT-4.0 translating a conversation between people in real time. Are you concerned at all that it will reduce the demand for Duolingo?

The fact that these are getting so good?

So last question. Do you have worries about AI? Are you optimistic? Like, how would you characterize your feelings, your belief about AI? Yeah.

And it seems to be happening that way with translators, interpreters. You've said this has been one of the frontiers of AI research and development.

Duolingo, it's the popular language learning app. Luis has a pretty fascinating background. He was born and raised in Guatemala, and he came to the United States for college to study mathematics and computer science. In his early 20s, Luis co-created Captcha.

All right. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.