Stanford GSB: View From The Top S8E8: Luis von Ahn Is Making Screen Time Count
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Aug 6, 2025 
Luis von Ahn, co-founder and CEO of Duolingo and former Carnegie Mellon professor, dives into his vision of making screen time beneficial for all. He reflects on the power of technology in education, sharing insights from his entrepreneurial journey. Von Ahn discusses innovative approaches to language learning, the importance of AI in education, and Duolingo's expansion into subjects beyond languages. With humor, he talks about his quirky marketing strategies and the significance of maintaining a positive company culture while integrating AI.
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Early Coding Anecdote
- Luis von Ahn learned to code at age eight to make his own games because his mother bought him a computer instead of a Nintendo.
- He initially wanted to be a computer science professor but realized he did not enjoy academia as much as building things.
Gamification to Solve Hard Problems
- Luis von Ahn pioneered using gamification to crowdsource hard computer problems by turning tasks into games.
- His ESP game collected image descriptions from millions achieving what computers couldn't at the time.
Duolingo's Origin Story
- Luis and his PhD student Severin started Duolingo as a thesis project to teach English for free online.
- Their motivation was accessibility, especially for those in poor countries like Guatemala where Luis grew up.