AI is reshaping Pittsburgh’s job landscape, eliminating roles for some while creating new opportunities for others.
Duolingo Goes ‘AI-First’ in Contracts and Hiring
Earlier this week, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn announced via a memo that the company will gradually replace contractors with AI for tasks that can be automated, as part of its shift to become more “AI-first.” Along with moving away from contracted work, Ahn stated that “AI use” will be a criterion in hiring and evaluating employee performance.
This change follows Duolingo’s decision to cut about 10% of its contractor workforce in late 2023 for similar reasons. Ahn emphasized the importance of adapting quickly to technological shifts, likening this move to Duolingo’s previous successful transition to mobile technology in 2012.
Pittsburgh Native Named AI Officer for Department of Defense
The US Department of Defense has appointed Douglas Matty, a Pittsburgh native, as its new chief digital and artificial intelligence officer (CDAO). Matty will lead the DOD’s efforts to adopt data, analytics, and AI to enhance decision-making capabilities. He previously founded the US Army Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C) and has been instrumental in developing AI capabilities within the Army.
ECI Telecom Hiring 100 New Employees
ECI, a local employee-owned automation control company, is looking to hire 100 new employees due to growing demand for energy and industrial automation. The company specializes in delivering industrial control products and is hosting a Tech Connect hiring event on May 15.
More Power Moves:
- An employment data analysis found Pittsburgh’s robotics and AI firms employ over 6,300 people locally.
- PNC COO William Parsley will step down in July, transitioning to an executive advisor role.
- Panopto, a CMU spinout, appointed Stephen Laster as its new CEO.
- Local healthcare software firm Net Health named Christy Totin its new CFO.
- Jeune Aesthetics appointed Marc Forth as its new CEO.
- Mastech Digital appointed Kannan Sugantharaman as CFO and COO.
- Local nonprofit Prototype PGH launched a workforce development program.
- Abridge, an AI startup, is shifting its focus to San Francisco due to rapid growth.
- Pittsburgh has added more than 45,000 jobs since June 2020, despite some losses from remote work.
- Kashif Henderson won the Pittsburgh Tech Council’s 2025 Tech Community Impact Award.
- Dina Powell McCormick was elected to Meta’s Board of Directors.
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