Duolingo, an ed-tech platform specializing in teaching languages, mathematics, and music, on Tuesday announced new features at its annual Duocon 2024 conference. The platform announced a new artificial intelligence feature with its Max subscription that will let users hold conversations with an AI chatbot while simulating a video call. It will help users have real conversations and improve their language proficiency, the company says. Besides this, the event featured the introduction of Adventures, a game-like feature, and the expansion of its music courses in partnership with Loog.
Launch of AI-Based Features of Duolingo at Duocon 2024
During Duocon 2024, the company announced a number of new features, including its AI-based ‘Video Call with Lily’ feature, through which a user can initiate a conversation with Lily – one of the company’s top virtual characters on Duolingo, enabling spontaneous as well as realistic chats with the chatbot.
The company stated that the feature is purposed to “simulate natural dialogue” and give a “personalised, interactive practice environment” to the users. Not limited to a particular level of language expertise, even the beginner user can take part in conversations through this AI-powered video calling feature.
According to the company, this AI can acclimatize itself to the skill level of the user so that everyone can practice regardless of their proficiency. The company is offering this feature free of cost to those who subscribe to Duolingo Max in learning the English, Spanish, and French languages.
The company had launched Duolingo Max last year, and with its subscription tier, there are AI capabilities to help users learn more effectively. On the day of the launch, the company said it was available to the users in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the US, and the UK. According to the company, it will expand the service to more countries as time goes by. With the Max subscription, it is offered at a $29.99 (around Rs. 2,400) monthly and $239.99 (around Rs. 19,960) for the yearly family plan.
Besides that, a new feature called Adventures is being launched. According to the company description, it is going to be a kind of experience like game and will give users the opportunity to live various story lines, interact with the characters, and thus slowly improve the language proficiency.
Such storylines are put into practical situations like ordering food or getting their passport checked to make it more functional. It will be available on both Android and iOS, though the company didn’t clarify whether this feature will also be accessible on the web client.
Duolingo is also expanding its music course capabilities with a partnership with portable instrument manufacturer Loog. This will allow the platform to offer users practice Duolingo Music lessons on a three-octave digital piano. The Duolingo x Loog Piano can be preordered on the company website and priced at $249 or roughly Rs. 20,800.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.