Duolingo is introducing a new “Max” subscription level with features powered by OpenAI’s new GPT-4 technology, the company announced Tuesday. Duolingo Max, which is $29.99 per month or $167.99 per year, unlocks two new AI-powered features called “Role Play” and “Explain My Answer.” The announcement comes on the same day that OpenAI released its next-generation GPT-4 artificial intelligence language model.
The Roleplay feature unlocks an AI chatbot that allows users to practice real-world conversation skills with the characters in the app. Users will be chatting with a responsive and interactive AI, thanks to GPT-4. The feature guides users through different scenarios. For example, you can pretend to order coffee at a Paris cafe or discuss future vacation plans with a certain character in the app. Once users are done with the conversation, they will receive AI-powered feedback on the accuracy and complexity of their answers, as well as tips for future conversations.
Image Credits: Duolingo
Duolingo says that human experts write the scenarios users see in Roleplay and make sure the initial prompt aligns with where the user is in their course. The experts also write the initial message in the chat and tell the AI model where to take the conversation.
The Explain My Answer feature gives users the opportunity to learn more about their answer in one lesson, whether their answer is correct or incorrect. Users can tap a button after certain exercises to enter a chat with Duo for an explanation as to why their answer was correct or incorrect, and request additional examples or clarification. The company says the feature is designed to help you when you make a mistake and aren’t sure what the correct answer would be. The feature can also help in cases where you are making the same mistake again and you are not sure why.
The only courses that can use these two new features are Spanish and French for English Speakers on iOS. The company plans to roll out the new features to more courses and platforms soon.
Duolingo Max is one level above the Super Duolingo subscription and comes with unlimited hearts, no ads, and personalized review through the app’s Practice Hub. If you are eligible to try Duolingo Max, you can find it in the Buy tab at the top of your screen.
Image Credits: Duolingo
Duolingo says it constantly reviews the AI-generated explanations in Roleplay and Explain My Answer to make sure the answers are correct and have the right tone. When Microsoft incorporated GPT-4 within Bing earlier this year, the tech giant faced backlash after users received puzzling and disturbing responses from the search engine. Microsoft noted that the chatbot could be caused to respond outside of its “designed pitch.” Duolingo likely wants to prevent a similar situation from happening with its chatbot, so it says it will make sure the tone of the AI is fun, encouraging and occasionally sarcastic in the Duo style.
“We know technology is never perfect (hey, neither are humans!),” the company said in a blog post. “Part of the reason we’re so excited to use GPT-4 for these features is that it’s the most accurate (and fastest) version of the technology available. We have spent months working closely with OpenAI to test and train this technology, and we will continue to do so until bugs are almost zero.”
Duolingo says he spent months testing the new technology with his computers and a small group of users and was impressed with the results.
OpenAI has partnered with other companies to integrate GPT-4 into their products, including Stripe and Khan Academy. The new model is available to the general public through ChatGPT Plus, the company’s $20 monthly subscription.
