cover of episode How Duolingo Aims to Diversify Beyond Language Learning

How Duolingo Aims to Diversify Beyond Language Learning

2025/4/29
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Jeffrey Rayport
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Nicole Keller
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@Jeffrey Rayport : Duolingo面临的核心问题是其增长战略。公司需要决定是否应该扩展到语言学习以外的领域,例如数学和音乐。这涉及到评估仅专注于语言学习的增长潜力,以及扩展到相关学科的可行性和对现有用户的吸引力。 我思考的是,Duolingo是否应该仅仅专注于语言学习,或者是否需要扩展到其他学术领域来实现增长。 此外,这种多元化战略对现有1亿月活跃用户来说是否具有吸引力? @Nicole Keller : Duolingo的成功主要归功于其对分析型AI(BirdBrain)的早期采用,该系统能够根据用户的学习进度和水平调整练习难度,从而提高学习效率和用户参与度。此外,Duolingo成功地将游戏化策略融入学习过程,例如经验值、排行榜和连续学习(Streaks)功能,这些都极大地提高了用户的学习积极性和留存率。 Duolingo的成功源于其对分析型AI(BirdBrain)的早期采用、游戏化策略以及对用户学习进度的追踪。 此外,Duolingo的连续学习(Streaks)功能对用户留存率起到了关键作用,20%的用户保持了超过365天的连续学习。 Duolingo利用微优化策略,根据用户的个性化特征和行为,调整应用内信息和互动方式,从而提高用户参与度。 Duolingo通过其有趣且古怪的品牌形象和社交媒体策略,获得了大量的有机用户增长。 Duolingo采用超级应用模式,是为了解决应用发现性和用户使用摩擦的问题,并降低开发成本。 Duolingo利用生成式AI技术,例如Lily视频通话功能,帮助用户提高语言流利度。 Duolingo的成功秘诀在于其游戏化策略,这使其与其他注重学习而非趣味性的教育应用区分开来。

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Launched in 2011, Duolingo grew into the most downloaded education app in the world. By late 2024, it boasted 100 million monthly active users, 8 million paid subscribers, and a market capitalization approaching $15 billion. The success stemmed from a gamified approach to learning, use of adaptive AI technology, and alignment of incentives: maintaining a streak on the app not only helped users master a language but also drove subscription growth and reduced costs.

Duolingo had focused almost exclusively on language learning. But the company recognized the enormous potential of Gen AI to power innovative products, such as conversational language practice. Severin Hacker, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, envisioned a future in which AI would transform the app into an educational ecosystem that covered many subjects beyond language, allowing the company to tap into the $56 billion edtech market.

Duolingo had recently started to explore this direction by adding new subjects, such as math and music. HBS Senior Lecturer Jeffrey Rayport and coauthor Nicole Keller join host Brian Kenny to discuss the case “Duolingo: On a Streak” and the long-term benefits and risks of this diversification strategy.