Preply announces new AI-powered features despite its ‘Anti-Duolingo’ approach as it aims to support human tutors with tech

Preply, a language learning marketplace, is launching three new AI-powered tools despite plans to take an “Anti-Duolingo” approach. 

Earlier this year, rival app Duolingo announced it was moving to an AI-first model, cancelling contracts for any tasks that could be completed by AI instead. In response, Preply launched a new campaign, titled The Better Duo, aiming to highlight the importance of human connection after rival Duolingo committed to an ‘AI-first’ model.

Preply now says it plans to pair its new AI tools with human interaction, offering benefits for both tutors and students. 

The three new AI-powered tools are:

Lesson insights - This offers instant, AI-created personalized summaries of each lesson. Designed to help learners stay motivated, they provide feedback and enable tutors to efficiently support development. 

Daily exercises - These bite-sized self-paced exercises connect content from lessons and learner focus areas to practice between lessons.

Scenario practice - These tutor-assisted speaking exercises help build speaking confidence between lessons, while allowing tutors to align AI-driven practice with lesson goals.

The new AI-powered features are available to a portion of English learners and tutors on Preply, with a wider rollout underway. The tools will be rolled out to additional languages throughout the year.

“We’re at a turning point in education where AI isn’t just enhancing the learning experience, it’s redefining it. But this will never replace the value of human connection,” comments Kirill Bigai, co-founder and CEO at Preply. 

“Together, humans and AI can make learning more personalized, more motivating, and more effective than ever before.”