This is the fiftieth session of Glasp Talk!

Glasp Talk delves deep into intimate interviews with luminaries from various fields, unraveling their genuine emotions, experiences, and the stories behind them.

Today’s guest is Bozena Pajak, a leading voice in cognitive science and language education, currently serving as the VP of Learning at Duolingo. With a Ph.D. in linguistics and a background in academia, she also mentors startups through Techstars and serves on the Cognitive Sciences Advisory Board at UC San Diego. Bozena shares her journey from growing up in Poland to shaping one of the world’s most beloved educational platforms.

In this episode, Bozena opens up about building Duolingo’s learning science from the ground up, how AI is transforming language education, and the importance of research-backed design in creating effective learning experiences. She reflects on balancing scientific rigor with user engagement, the surprising power of Duo the Owl, and why consistency matters more than perfection when learning anything new.

Bozena also discusses her motivations as a mentor, her evolving role in education technology, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind: a world where everyone can learn and grow, regardless of background.

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Read the transcript:

How to Build Duolingo’s Learning Engine with Science and AI | Bozena Pajak | Glasp Talk #50

Read the summary:

How to Build Duolingo’s Learning Engine with Science and AI | Bozena Pajak | Glasp Talk #50

Read the newsletter:

How to Build Duolingo’s Learning Engine with Science and AI | Bozena Pajak | Glasp Talk #50

Watch the full episode on YouTube:

How to Build Duolingo’s Learning Engine with Science and AI | Bozena Pajak | Glasp Talk #50

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