Duolingo Plays Chess Now?

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Hey, it’s Kushagra. Welcome to this week’s AtlasMoth drop.

Wait… Duolingo plays chess now?
Not a language. Not flashcards. Not verbs.
But chess. For real.

This week, we’re diving into why Duo dropped a brainy game instead of a lesson and why it’s more than just a flex.
It’s smart, chill, and made for everyone, not just the hardcore chess crowd.

From side quests in math and music to AI-powered moves, Duo’s leveling-up learning is like never before.
It’s not just a game. It’s a vibe, a new way to play and grow.

Let’s crack why chess fits Duo’s style and what great UX can learn from this fresh move.

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Wait... Does Duolingo play chess now?

Last month, Duo said, “Yo, chess drop soon.”
Not a new language. Not flashcards. Not verbs.
But chess. For real.

“Think: brain moves, big flex, and a dash of sass,” said the CEO, Luis, on X.
And folks?
Some were hyped.
Some were like, “Huh?”

We get it. Duo’s been a game since day one. But this?
This is a game. No owl. No “bonne nuit.” Just raw brain duels.

So why’d they do it?

Sammi, one of Duo’s top devs, put it best:
“We want to teach all the things. For all the peeps.”
Smart stuff. Free. Fun. For the world.

Why chess, tho?

“Chess just fits,” said Sammi from Duo on a pod with a16z.
“It’s all brains, logic, moves, vibes. A game that makes you think.”

But here’s the tea: most chess apps? Built for the sweat crowd.
Hard-core folks. Lots of bros. Not much chill.
Sammi said, “We saw a gap. Time to make chess fun, cute, and for all.”
Just like we did with languages.

And you, this ain’t the owl’s first side quest.

Last year?
Duo dropped music and math in the same app.
No big press. Just good stuff.
Now, it’s chess time. ♟️

Not just talk. It works.

Sammi, yeah, same one who’s now deep in chess led the math crew too.
And guess what?
Those short, sweet math and music bits? They hit.
Proof that the “Duo way” (tiny fun bites, no stress) works way past langs.

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Now the goal?
Be your chill, smart bestie in your phone.
Math, notes, chess, verbs’s all one vibe:
Smart stuff that feels fun. That you’ll want to come back to.

Also, math + music drops taught the team one more thing:
How to build stuff fast that scales.
And with Gen AI?
That’s a game-changer.

Side quest: The owl slays on socials

We know Duo’s social game is wild.
Owl in a thirst trap? Check.
TikToks that make you LOL, cry, and Duolingo all at once? Yup.

But there’s more to it than views.
Monica from PR spilled:

“Yeah, we go viral. But the real flex?
People apply ‘cause they saw a meme.
We hear it all the time.
That real voice? It pulls folks in and it keeps the team bold.”

Now, when the press, big brands, or cool folks slide in?
They know there’s a real squad behind the chaos.

Duo’s AI Era Just Dropped

Last month, the big boss, Luis, sent a memo.
The vibe?
“We went big on phones in 2012. Now, we go all in on AI.”
Yep. Duo’s going AI-first.

The quote that made waves:
“We’ll start to use less outside help… if AI can do the job.”

And just days later, the why got real clear:
148 new courses. Dropped. At once.
That’s more than double what they had.
For took 12 years to build 100.
Now they dropped 148… in one year.
AI did the heavy lifting. 💪

But here’s the best part:
It’s not just more. It’s better for folks left out.
Now, if you speak Spanish or Portuguese, you can learn Japanese, Korean, or Chinese.
If you speak an Asian language, you’re not stuck with just English; you get seven more options.
Doors. Flung. Open.

In a world where folks stress about AI wrecking school and work,
Duo just said:
“What if AI made learning more human?”
And then did it. 🦉

The Ultimate AI Chess Coach

Right now, Duo’s chess track is made for newbs.
Sammi said, “We ain’t here to get you to tourney play yet, but we got the tools so you can play full games, spot key plays, and feel at home on the board.”

Down the line, the crew wants to drop next-level AI tools that make chess learning even more lit. They’re testing out bots that act like real pals and offer live, in-game tips.

Today, the course has an AI that shifts to meet you where you are. But soon, it’ll be even smarter, with new plays, drills, and puzzles that read your past slip-ups and shape your game.

There’s one thing that’s still missing: a head-to-head mode for duels. Is it comin’? Not just yet. Sammi says, “We see it, but first we gotta build a solid base. Once that’s done, we’ll see how to add some real heat while still keepin’ it all ‘bout learnin’ and growth.”