Duolingo's founder on billionaire life: ‘I guess it's nice not to worry'
Now 46, and worth $1.4 billion (£1 billion), it's fair to say America exceeded his expectations.
Von Ahn is one of the rare entrepreneurs for whom lightning has struck not once, not twice, but three times — most significantly with his hugely successful learn-a-language app, Duolingo.
If you aren't personally doing Duolingo, chances are someone in your family is.
More than 130 million people around the world, from Bill Gates to Khloé Kardashian, are studying one or more of its 40-plus languages. Of those, 47 million use it every day — a scholarly army nearly 50 per cent bigger than it was a year ago.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geeky Gadgets
16 minutes ago
- Geeky Gadgets
iOS 26 Beta 3: Significant Improvements
The release of iOS 26 beta 3 signifies an important phase in Apple's software evolution, introducing a combination of design enhancements, performance improvements, and ecosystem updates. While the beta showcases several promising features, it also highlights areas where Apple continues to face challenges. Below is a detailed look at the most significant updates and their implications for your Apple devices in a new video from Zollotech. Watch this video on YouTube. Design and Functionality Enhancements iOS 26 beta 3 introduces a 'liquid glass' design, offering a sleek and modern aesthetic that refines both dark and light modes. The addition of frosted glass effects enhances the interface, delivering a more immersive and visually appealing experience. However, user feedback has been mixed—while some users appreciate the polished look, others have expressed a desire for greater customization options to tailor the interface to their preferences. Key usability improvements include: Improved alignment for the app dock, making sure a cleaner layout. Enhanced screenshot gestures, making the process smoother and more intuitive. Fixes to copy-paste functionality, resolving prior inconsistencies. The reintroduction of decibel level monitoring in the Control Center is a notable feature for users focused on sound management. Subtle updates to UI animations and core apps such as Messages, Notes, and FaceTime contribute to a more fluid and cohesive interface. Additionally, app-switching gestures and Safari design tweaks streamline navigation, making everyday tasks more efficient. Performance and Stability Performance improvements in iOS 26 beta 3 are incremental but noticeable. Battery life has seen slight gains, particularly during light usage, though inconsistencies persist during resource-intensive tasks. Benchmark tests reveal modest performance boosts, but some users continue to report occasional lag and overheating, especially on older devices. Unresolved issues include: Delays in wireless charging, which can disrupt usability. App crashes during multitasking, particularly with resource-heavy applications. Despite these challenges, the beta reflects progress in refining the overall user experience. These updates signal Apple's ongoing commitment to addressing performance concerns and enhancing stability across its devices. User Feedback and Concerns The reception of iOS 26 beta 3 has been mixed, with user experiences varying based on individual usage patterns. Many users have praised the visual updates, particularly the liquid glass design, while others have expressed dissatisfaction with changes to light mode and the limited customization options. Common concerns raised by users include: Connectivity issues with AirPods, affecting seamless integration. UI glitches that occasionally disrupt usability, such as misaligned icons or animation delays. These mixed reactions underscore the importance of user feedback in shaping future updates. Apple's ability to address these concerns will be critical in making sure the success of the final iOS 26 release. Apple Ecosystem Updates The iOS 26 beta 3 release is part of a broader wave of updates across Apple's ecosystem, reflecting the company's efforts to enhance integration and functionality. Notable developments include: Apple CarPlay now supports NFL audio and radio broadcasts for select teams, with plans to expand availability in the coming months. Apple Arcade is adding four new games in August, offering users fresh entertainment options. Support for third-party apps to handle cellular calls and SMS in the EU, aligning with regional regulatory requirements. In hardware news, Apple is working to restore the blood oxygen sensor feature on Apple Watches in the U.S., addressing a key health-related functionality. Additionally, the Apple Account Card is expanding to more countries, improving accessibility for international users and enhancing the ecosystem's global reach. Hardware and Software News Apple's ecosystem continues to evolve alongside its software updates, with recent developments highlighting the company's focus on innovation and user experience. Key updates include: Safari Technology Preview 223 for macOS Tahoe and Sequoia, showcasing advancements in web browsing technology and performance. Firmware updates for AirPods Pro 2, aimed at improving connectivity, reducing latency, and enhancing overall performance. In leadership news, Apple COO Jeff Williams has announced his retirement, marking a significant shift in the company's leadership structure. Tim Cook will now oversee design responsibilities, a move that could influence the direction of Apple's future product designs and innovations. Looking Ahead As Apple prepares for the public beta release of iOS 26, expectations remain high for further refinements and stability improvements. The upcoming updates are anticipated to address lingering issues such as battery inconsistencies and UI glitches, offering a more polished and seamless experience. Meanwhile, iOS 18.6 beta 2 has demonstrated promising signs of enhanced stability and performance, providing a glimpse of what users can expect in future iterations. The iOS 26 beta 3 release reflects Apple's dedication to refining its ecosystem, blending design innovation with functional improvements. While challenges remain, the updates highlight the company's commitment to responding to user feedback and delivering a cohesive experience across its hardware and software platforms. As the public beta nears, users can look forward to a more stable and feature-rich operating system that continues to evolve alongside Apple's broader ecosystem. Below are more guides on iOS 26 beta updates from our extensive range of articles. Source & Image Credit: zollotech Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
Reuters
22 minutes ago
- Reuters
Morning Bid: The art of hogging headlines, using tariffs
July 14 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. It looks increasingly clear that for President Trump, tariffs are mainly a convenient means of dominating the news cycle and staying in the headlines. Not for him are months of tortuous, complex trade talks aimed at a win-win outcome. Why do that when you can tweet a 30% tariff threat on a Saturday morning and own the news for an entire weekend? Figuring this is mostly a negotiation tactic, markets have eased only modestly in Asia. S&P 500 futures are off 0.4% or so while most regional indices are down only slightly. The euro is down a fraction, but European futures have lost a larger 0.7% as it's hard to see how Brussels could ever satisfy Trump's demands, in part because it's not clear what he wants. EU tariffs on U.S. goods are already so minor there is little to cut, while granting exemption to domestic taxes and regulations is politically fraught. It's also possible the market's stoic reaction will prove to be too clever by half. Investors figure Trump really, really wants to avoid another market melt-down, so will ease up on tariffs when the crunch comes. But with U.S. stocks hitting record highs and bond yields well off their peaks, Trump could be forgiven for thinking markets are now on his side and realise how "beautiful" tariffs really are. At any rate, it seems certain that the effective U.S. tariff rate will be akin to the Smoot-Hawley levies that contributed so much to the Great Depression and we'll get to see if Trump is right and the vast majority of professional economists are wrong. They don't yet look to have magically solved the U.S. trade deficit. China today reported its surplus with the U.S. rose 48% in June to almost $27 billion, while its overall exports beat forecasts. Trump also found time to stoke his feud with Fed Chair Jerome Powell, saying it would be "a great thing" if he stepped down - eight years after he nominated Powell to the role. Worryingly, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett over the weekend warned Trump might have grounds to fire Powell because of renovation cost overruns at the Fed's Washington headquarters. Analysts assume a Trump pick for Fed chief would do his bidding by trying to cut interest rates aggressively, though whether the rest of FOMC voters would agree is in doubt. This could push short-term market rates lower, but longer-term yields would likely rise as investors demand compensation for the risk of faster inflation, much as happened in Turkey. Key developments that could influence markets on Monday: - ECB board member Piero Cipollone appears at the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
Telegraph
27 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Trump's housing revolution threatens another mortgage meltdown
Donald Trump is eyeing up what might become 'the biggest deal in history' and the stakes could not be higher. It could feasibly bring in hundreds of billions of dollars for the public purse and boost homeownership. Or it could send mortgage rates soaring. The deal is the fate of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two mortgage giants that together back around $7 trillion (£5.2 trillion) of America's $12 trillion mortgage market – a sum roughly double the size of the UK economy. The two government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) nearly went under during the financial crisis and were bailed out by the US Treasury in 2008. For the last 17 years, they have been in government conservatorship, meaning they are governed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), with an explicit government guarantee behind their loans. Now, the president wants to start cashing out. Shaky foundations 'I am giving very serious consideration to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on May 21. 'Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, throwing off a lot of CASH, and the timing would seem to be right. Stay tuned!' The two GSEs have a combined net worth of almost $161bn. Selling a portion of these shares could rival the $25.6bn Saudi Aramco initial public offering (IPO) as the biggest listing in history. But there are big potential problems. It is not clear what the trade-off will be between the Treasury's stake in the GSEs and those of private investors, who include several of Trump's billionaire backers. The deal raises questions about threats to financial stability, and there is a risk it could drive mortgage rates higher. In early June, a group of 14 Democrat senators led by Elizabeth Warren wrote to FHFA director William Pulte warning the result could be 'disastrous'. Fannie and Freddie are enormous. Between them, they support about 70pc of the US mortgage market. 'Back in 2007, they were a sizeable chunk of the market, now they are almost its entirety,' says Jim Parrott, of the Urban Institute. The GSEs function by buying up mortgage loans from banks. They pool the mortgages into trusts and slice them up to issue mortgage-backed securities (MBS), an investment vehicle similar to a bond. These are then sold to insurers and pension funds. Fannie and Freddie earn a fee by guaranteeing the debt. This is one of the bedrocks of the American financial system. There are many good reasons to end conservatorship, which was supposed to be a temporary crisis measure. Aaron Klein, senior fellow on financial regulation at the Brookings Institution, argues that opening the GSEs up to private capital would free them from the government's risk-averse lending terms and open up mortgage borrowing for first-time buyers. Messing it up, however, would risk triggering contagion across the financial sector. Mortgage risk One of the most important questions is what happens to the government's guarantee – worth some $250bn – if the GSEs leave conservatorship. Analysts have warned losing the government guarantee could add a whole percentage point to mortgage rates. This would take the average rate on a 30-year fix to more than 7.7pc – in line with the 23-year high that was hit in 2023.
