How I Built This with Guy Raz
reCAPTCHA and Duolingo: Luis von Ahn
May 25, 2020
Luis von Ahn, a brilliant computer scientist from Guatemala, shares his inspiring journey from creating CAPTCHA to co-founding Duolingo. He reveals how a chance encounter led to the development of reCAPTCHA, monetizing language learning while tackling email spamming. Von Ahn discusses the challenges of maintaining a free platform and navigating monetization, highlighting Duolingo's mission to democratize education. His path symbolizes innovation's intersection with personal challenges and societal needs.
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Quick takeaways
- CAPTCHA was initially created as a solution to combat spam but evolved into the foundation of monetizing language learning with Duolingo.
- reCAPTCHA used ads and a subscription service to generate revenue and expand its digitizing services.
Deep dives
Creating a language learning app with a unique business model
The podcast episode discusses how the CEO of Duolingo developed a language learning app with a unique business model. Initially, they relied on contracts with news organizations to generate revenue, but this approach proved to be unsustainable. They made the decision to cancel those contracts and raise more venture capital to sustain the company. Despite pressure to charge users or run ads, the CEO remained committed to providing free language education. This led to challenges in finding a viable monetization strategy. However, they were able to secure funding and continue their mission of offering free language education.
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