Public Service Announcement by Luis von Ahn

Jul 12, 2024

Public Service Announcement by Luis von Ahn

Introduction

  • Speaker: Luis von Ahn
  • Nationality: Guatemalan
  • Distinction between Guatemala and Guantanamo (laughter).
  • Location of Guatemala: below Mexico.
  • Guatemala compared to Mexico: "Mexico's Mexico" (laughter).

Guatemala's Situation

  • Guatemala: small, poor country with excellent food.
  • Education seen as a source of inequality:
    • Rich have access to good education, continue wealth.
    • Poor lack good education, remain poor.
  • Speaker received quality education due to mother's efforts.

Motivation for Equal Education

  • Goal: Provide equal access to education for all.
  • Background: Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University.
  • Project partner: PhD student, Severin.
  • Focus area: Language education (start with one subject).
  • Decision influenced by large demand for language learning:
    • ~2 billion people learning a foreign language.
    • 80% learning English.
    • Learning English can significantly increase income potential.

Duolingo: Language Learning App

  • Importance of accessibility via smartphones.
  • Freemium model:
    • Free access with ads.
    • Subscription option to remove ads.
    • Wealth redistribution: Rich countries’ users fund the education for poorer countries.

Tackling Engagement Challenges

  • Smartphones: Come with addictive apps (e.g., TikTok, Instagram).
  • Duolingo aims to make learning engaging like these apps:
    • Strategies to keep users engaged:
      • Streaks: Daily usage counter.
      • Notifications: Reminders optimized by AI.
      • Passive aggressive notifications.

Impact and Reach

  • Engagement statistics:
    • 3 million users with streaks over 365 days.
    • Japan has longest average streaks, Latin America shortest.
  • Memes and cultural impact:
    • Green owl mascot in numerous internet memes.

Future Vision

  • Applying techniques to other subjects (math, physics, etc.).
  • Educational apps do not need to be as engaging as social media.
  • Key point: Education provides meaning and internal satisfaction.
  • Goal: Deliver high-quality education to everyone via mobile phones.

Call to Action

  • Reminder to complete language lessons.