Duolingo Taps ChatGPT To Bring Personalized AI-Powered Language Lessons
Language lessons can be even more effective when paired with feedback from a native speaker, but what about one in the form of artificial intelligence? That’s what Duolingo is offering users in its latest ‘Max’ subscription tier, which taps into OpenAI’s latest GPT-4 technology.
For US$29.99 per month or US$167.99 per year, users will gain access to two new features on the application, titled ‘Roleplay’ and ‘Explain My Answer’. The former will allow students to practice real-world conversation skills with interactive AI characters across different scenarios.
It won’t be a one-way conversation either, as the characters will be able to respond accordingly. For example, you can try your hand at a practice scenario of ordering food from a local coffee house or going furniture shopping in one of the “side quests.”
After which, the application will provide feedback based on its algorithm on how well the user did in terms of accuracy and the complexity of responses, complete with extra tips to use in future conversations.
Despite being powered primarily by AI, the company said the scenarios under the segment are written by human experts to ensure that users’ current level of fluency is aligned with the initial prompt. The technology is then directed on when to give the next response.
Image via Duolingo
‘Explain My Answer’, as its name implies, allows users to better understand why their answer to a question was correct or incorrect. After quizzes, students can request examples or further information if needed, so mistakes are identified and rectified quickly.
Naturally, the company admitted that AI isn’t perfect, though it said that by being based on GPT-4, it is using the most accurate and fastest version of the technology available, and has spent months working with OpenAI to test the features.
At the moment, only Spanish and French will have these features for English speakers on iOS, with Duolingo reportedly planning to roll both functions out to more courses and on more platforms in the near future.
Image via Duolingo
[via TechCrunch and SlashGear, images via Duolingo]
