Lessons learned using Generative AI for product development

Discover practical lessons on applying generative AI to product development, including model choices, evaluation methods, integration challenges, and innovation strategies.

Speakers: Natalie Glance

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November 11, 2025

Generative AI is changing how we build and what’s possible for our users. In this session, Natalie Glance, Chief Engineering Officer at Duolingo, will share lessons learned based on real-world case studies.

You will learn about:

The importance of communicating clear principles on the use of AI
Trade-offs in using model APIs vs self-hosting vs on-device
Buy vs build vs wait decisions in the face of rapid change
Minimizing switching costs, how to decide which model to use and the importance of evals
Pros and cons of fine-tuning and custom models
The technical and change management challenges of retrofitting systems to use AI
How AI turbo-charges 0 to 1 innovation

Natalie’s experience leading engineering at Duolingo, where AI has transformed the product and user experience, makes her uniquely qualified to share these insights. This session will help you build a new operational model for the AI era.

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