Google takes aim at Duolingo with new English tutoring tool | TechCrunch

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Abstraction: Google Search adds AI-powered English speaking practice feature for language learners

Key points:

Google launched interactive English speaking practice in Search for Android in Argentina, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Venezuela in October 2023
Sessions last 3–5 minutes; the system provides semantic feedback (relevance and comprehensibility), grammar suggestions, and example answers at varying complexity levels
Google built multiple custom ML models: Deep Aligner (translation), a grammar correction model adapted for speech transcription, a semantic feedback model, and a sentence-complexity estimator
The system accommodates accented speech via tailored training; linguists, ESL/EFL educators, and language learning partners co-created content
Positions as a complement to Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel rather than a direct replacement, though Duolingo stock dipped 0.63% on the announcement day
Google's previous language learning feature launched in 2019 saw years of inactivity before this expansion

Connections: Google · Duolingo · AI In Education · Natural Language Processing