Hiten Show

Duolingo was one of the most beloved brands in tech.But in 2025, a leaked memo exposed the company’s true AI strategy: automate education. The backlash was instant. Reddit turned. TikToks went viral. Loyal users walked away from thousand-day streaks.This is the inside story of Duolingo's unraveling: how a brand built on personality and playfulness lost user trust overnight, alienated its community, and put years of brand equity at risk all while selling a different story to investors.Chapters(0:00) Why Duolingo users started quitting(0:42) AI as a teaching tool or a threat to quality?(1:12) When Duolingo went all-in on AI(2:07) The memo that kickstarted Duolingo’s downfall(2:57) From viral love to viral hate(3:17) Duolingo’s off-brand response(3:52) The scramble to win users back(4:12) What every founder (and brand) can learnTranscriptIn May, 2025, Duolingo users started quitting. I quit Duolingo. We are watching the live downfall of Duolingo.Tiktoks went viral. The Reddit community turned on them all because of a memo posted by the CEO AI is really positive for our business.In this video, I'll break down what happens when a consumer brand tells one story to users and another to investor.How that tension backfired for Duolingo and what not to do during a PR crisis. Guys, Duolingo’s downfall is here.You already know this, but Duolingo was one of the most loved brands in tech since 2012. They've worked to create a cult following the green owl, the memes, the passive aggressive streak reminders.It felt chaotic. Funny, personal, but internally, the company was moving in a different direction. By 2020. Duolingo was integrating AI first with Bird Brain, then GPT-3, but they kept it quiet in public.They still leaned on the owl, their human experts, and a tone that made the app feel alive. This was a contradiction on the outside playfulness, community, personality on the inside, automation scale, efficiency.It raised a tricky question for Duolingo. How do they scale using AI without breaking the brand? While selling a story investors wanted to hear by 2023, the shift was harder to Miss.Duolingo launched Max Duolingo Max powered by GPT-4. It offered AI role play instant explanations and personalized feedback inside the company.Some called it Duolingo ChatGPT moment. The stock tripled within a year and the messaging change. Its tagline became AI and Education make a great duo. Duolingo worked with OpenAI for years. The same year, the New Yorker profiled, CEO Luis von Ahn. He said replacing teachers is a worthwhile trade off.Then came the rollout in April, 2025. Duolingo released 148 new courses built with generative AI. von Ahn said our first a hundred courses took about 12 years. The next 150 took just one. The internal roadmap shifted towards full stack automation from lesson content to gamified features with AI led characters, but users started to suspect a drop in quality.Recently, things have gotten so bad. Then came the memo. In May, 2025, von Ahn on wrote a post that made the company's direction clear, automate everything. It was the first time Duolingo had said it out loud. One line stood out, humans won't get us there. The memo detailed what AI first meant In practice, headcount would only grow if AI couldn't do the job.New hires and existing teams would be evaluated on how well they used AI. More jobs would be cut, support would be handled by chatbots. None of this was a pivot. It was a strategy, months in motion. It was just never shared. Publicly, the goal was to scale personalized education, but to many users, it felt like the soul had been stripped out.Alan, are you spending on infrastructure, content? Where's the money going? I'm demanding Answers from the CEO. Duolingo set out to optimize the backend, but what they were really changing was the front end, their brand, and it didn't go unnoticed. The response was instant. Reddit threads called the new content AI slop full of mistakes on TikTok.Users said the app felt like a robot pretending to care. Videos tagged Duolingo AI racked up over 10 million views in days, most of them negative. Even LinkedIn piled on. Some users walked away from streets they'd kept for over a thousand days. After users turned, Duolingo pulled back. The company known for chaos and humor went quiet.First, they deleted comments. Next, they temporarily wiped their TikTok and Instagram feeds yours of brand voice gone. Then von Ahn went on a podcast and added fuel to the fire. He said, I'm not sure that there's anything that computers can't really teach you. I think speculating schools would mostly exist for childcare.While AI handled the teaching to users, it sounded like the company had stopped listening. So Duolingo resumed posting only this time with carefully worded lines. Community feedback is valued and humans are still in the loop. Then at the end of May von Ahn walks some of it back. Our employees are what make Duolingo so amazing.So we're gonna continue having employees, and not only that, we're actually gonna be hiring more employees, but he also didn't reverse course. I see AI as a tool to accelerate what we do at the same or better level of quality. If anything, his comments suggested he still believed the trade-offs were worth it.This is a case study in nailing the right messaging to the right audience. I know you're upset. I know people are upset. I wanna make this right. That matters even more when different audiences care about different things. In duo's case, that was public market investors versus everyday people trying to learn a new language.For your company, it might be investors versus users or employees versus customers. The same principles apply. Know exactly who you're talking to and what matters most to them.Hiten=) This is a public episode. 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In this engaging conversation, Tim, the founder of Saasco, opens up about his struggles with go-to-market tactics. He stresses the importance of focusing on value over price and rethinking product positioning. The duo discusses product sequencing and how effective design partnerships can refine offerings. Tim highlights the necessity of aligning business goals with actual customer needs to achieve $10K in monthly recurring revenue. He shares insightful strategies to tackle common pitfalls faced by many founders.

Today, I'm back in the lab with Walter White exploring more startup lessons from Breaking Bad. In this episode, I examine common early-stage founder pitfalls, the ego traps that can derail success, recognizing the right time to exit, and the importance of keeping your ultimate goals in sight. I break down four pivotal scenes that mirror these critical startup challenges. Let's dive in!Where to find Part 1 & 2• Cofounder Scenes From Breaking Bad (Part 1)• Distribution Scenes From Breaking Bad (Part 2)The pivotal scenes Early founder mistake (Season 2, Episode 1) Founder ego challenges (Season 5, Episode 6) Knowing when to sell (Season 5, Episode 6) Consider your ultimate goal (Season 5, Episode 6)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today's episode(00:35) How much is enough(01:35) Founder ego challenges(02:47) Know when to sell(04:08) Walter’s real motivationSocials• Website• YouTube• LinkedIn• Twitter/XQuick Links• Share feedback• Pitch me• Ask a question• NewsletterFind the show• All episodes• YouTube• Spotify• AppleDisclaimer: Hiten Shah's "The Hiten Show" episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. The show's content is based on fictional scenarios from Breaking Bad and should not be taken as endorsement of illegal activities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I’m back in the lab with Walter White, cooking up more startup lessons from Breaking Bad. In this episode, I focus on two critical startup challenges: scaling operations and mastering distribution. I break down four key moments that mirror every founder's growth challenges. Let’s dive in!Where to find Part 1 The Business of Breaking Bad (Part 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpxN63hDEv0The pivotal scenes Sales & Distribution(Season 1, Episode 6) Co-founder Disagreements (Season 2, Episode 11) The Best Product Doesn’t Always Win (Season 2, Episode 11) The Investor/Founder Relationship (Season 3, Episode 5)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today's episode(00:31) Building a distribution engine(01:50) Navigating co-founder disagreements(03:37) One common founder trope(04:23) Founders always forget this(05:50) Finding partners(06:55) What investors want from foundersSocials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hnshah/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/hnshahQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer: Hiten Shah's "The Hiten Show" episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. The show's content is based on fictional scenarios from Breaking Bad and should not be taken as endorsement of illegal activities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I'm breaking down scenes from Breaking Bad on Walter White’s early startup days. I’m not endorsing illegal activities, but Walt's story is surprisingly packed with startup lessons. From pivoting careers to finding the right co-founder, I've distilled four key moments that mirror every founder's journey. Ready to cook up some insights? Let's dive in.The pivotal scenes The Cancer Diagnosis (Season 1, Episode 1) Walter Wants to Cook (Season 1, Episode 1) Walter Shows Jesse the Cooking Equipment (Season 1, Episode 1) Walter and Jesse’s First Cook (Season 1, Episode 1) Walter and Jesse Argue About Business (Season 1, Episode 6)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today's episode(00:26) Walter’s cancer diagnosis(01:29) Walter and Jesse team up(02:59) Alignment is key(04:20) The Batman and Robin framework(05:53) Building a quality product(07:05) Product market fit is a “vibe”(08:14) Setting cofounder expectations(10:07) The hack to finding a cofounderSocials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hnshah/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/hnshahQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer: Hiten Shah's "The Hiten Show" episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. The show's content is based on fictional scenarios from Breaking Bad and should not be taken as endorsement of illegal activities. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I'm breaking down 5 unforgettable Shark Tank pitches packed with lessons for founders. I'll rate what worked, what didn't, and unpack must-know insights for your next pitch. Ready to swim with the sharks? Let's dive in!The pitches Squatty Potty (Season 6, Episode 9) Jax Sheets (Season 12, Episode 13) Haven Lock (Season 10, Episode 18) Scrub Daddy (Season 4, Episode 7) Tree-T-Pee (Season 5, Episode 7)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today's episode(00:33) Squatty Potty(03:36) Jax Sheets(05:34) Haven Lock(08:56) Scrub Daddy(11:42) Tree-T-PeeSocials Website: https://www.hiten.show YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hnshah/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/hnshahQuick links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Submit a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: https://www.hiten.show/episodes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow Spotify: https://www.hiten.show/spotify Apple: https://hiten.show/appleDisclaimer: Hiten Shah's "The Hiten Show" episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I’m breaking down a storyline about mergers and acquisitions from HBO's Succession. We'll unpack intense boardroom scenes, rate their accuracy, and extract valuable lessons for founders. Why? Because for successful startups, acquisition talks are inevitable. Let's dive in.The scenes from Succession Celebration (Season 1, Episode 1) Vaulter (Season 2, Episode 2)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today’s episode(00:15) Show intro(00:31) The founder's objection to the deal terms(01:53) What acquirers don’t do(02:40) Unrealistic founder dialogue(03:35) Negotiations shouldn’t be personal(04:36) Pitching the acquisition to stakeholders(05:40) Unexpected challenges post-acquisition(06:52) Gutting the company post-acquisition(08:41) Breaking promises(09:38) The importance of empathy in layoffsSocials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hnshah/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/hnshahQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I’m reacting to Mad Men's iconic pitches and dissecting Don Draper's advertising genius. I'll break down each presentation, revealing hidden lessons for founders. Ready to level up your startup's marketing strategy? Let's dive in.The pitches Hilton (Season 3, Episode 9) Heinz Ketchup (Season 6, Episode 4) Heinz Beans (Season 5, Episode 6) Lucky Strike (Season 1, Episode 1) Kodak Carousel (Season 1, Episode 13) Jaguar (Season 5, Episode 11) Belle Jolie (Season 1, Episode 8) Kellogg's (Unfrosted)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on today’s episode(00:20) Show intro(00:36) The Hilton pitch(01:53) The Heinz Ketchup pitch(03:09) The Heinz Beans pitch(04:26) The Lucky Strike pitch(06:30) The Kodak Carousel pitch(08:34) The Jaguar pitch(09:53) The Belle Jolie pitch(10:52) The Kellogg’s pitch(12:28) That’s a wrap!Socials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hnshah/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/hnshahQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

There’s a lot we can learn from the recent events with Humane, and this episode is dedicated to breaking down these events, sharing my perspective on what went wrong, and identifying a potential path forward for the company.This video is not intended to be a hit piece or to drag the founders, employees, or anyone else involved with Humane.Instead, I aim to uncover valuable insights we can all apply to future challenges when building our own companies.In this episode, I cover: Where Humane AI went wrong What I would do as CEO Why the founders deserve empathy Learnings from their journey What each group involved in Humane is likely feeling (team, founders, board) What’s next for HumaneReferenced Bethany Bongiorno (co-founder) Imran Chaudhri (co-founder) Humane (Website) The potential buyout (Verge)Episode timestamps(00:00) Coming up on the show(00:30) Everything you need to know about Humane AI in 30s(01:25) Humane AI’s biggest failure(02:48) The one thing a company can’t lose(04:20) What I would do as CEO(06:09) What’s going on inside Humane AI(08:52) The only way out of thisSocials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitenshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshowQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show

Today, I talk with Cody Schneider, the co-founder and CEO of SwellAI, about his AI content repurposing company.In this episode, we discuss: Cody biggest challenges and my targeted advice The common mistake self-funded founders make Which market SwellAI should win first How Cody can differentiate SwellAITimestamps(00:00) Episode trailer(00:50) Cody’s Pitch for SwellAI(03:12) More engineers and money ≠ growth(04:19) Cody’s biggest challenge(06:38) Advice on differentiation, opportunity, and growth(15:15) Key takeaways(16:15) That’s a wrap!Socials Website: https://www.hiten.show/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkNsg4JbOBrXeCbcFN8R71A Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitenshow/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hitenshowQuick Links Share feedback: https://www.hiten.show/feedback Pitch me: https://www.hiten.show/pitch Ask a question: https://www.hiten.show/ask Newsletter: https://www.hiten.show/Find the show All episodes: hiten.show/episodes YouTube: hiten.show/youtube Spotify: hiten.show/spotify Apple: hiten.show/appleDisclaimer Hiten Shah’s “The Hiten Show” episodes are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute business, financial, or other professional advice. Audience members should not act upon the content or information found here without first seeking appropriate advice from an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other professional. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.hiten.show