Kirill Bigai, CEO and co-founder of Preply, shares how the company's human-led, AI-enabled approach is putting Preply at the forefront of the rapidly evolving world of online language learning.

1. First things first: Tell us about Preply — how does Preply currently use AI and how is this changing?

Bigai: Preply is the language learning platform building the future of learning, with one goal at heart: to power real progress.

The basics:

• 100k+ human tutors.
• 90+ languages.
• Learners in 180 countries.
• Students progress 3x faster than industry norms.

We're using AI to strengthen personalization for learners and save tutors time — so they can focus on what they do best: teach.

Why it's important: Our AI tools help support the tutor-learner bond and accelerate outcomes, moving us closer to the future of personalized language learning.

2. What's new: Preply is rolling out new AI features — what capabilities do these features have and what they will bring to the platform?

Bigai: The response to our new AI tools has been overwhelmingly positive. This is not just an upgrade, it's a reimagining of what learning can be and a major leap forward in the industry.

Here's what we're rolling out now:

• Lessons insights: Instant, personalized summaries of each lesson designed to help learners stay motivated — giving clear feedback on progress and specific areas to improve, while allowing tutors to efficiently support each student's development.
• Daily exercises: Engaging, bite-sized, self-learning activities connecting content between lessons and learners' focus areas — giving learners personalized, AI-powered practice between lessons, while providing tutors with easy-to-use progress tracking tools.
• Scenario practice: Tutor-assigned, real-world speaking exercises — helping learners build confidence between lessons, and empowering tutors to align AI-driven practice with lesson goals.

3. The impact: How have you seen Preply's new AI tools improve learning outcomes for students and tutors?

Bigai: We've focused on creating AI tools that provide real value for tutors and learners to create an experience that can't be found anywhere else.

For learners, these tools help with:

• Building their speaking confidence.
• Practicing language in real-life contexts.
• Staying engaged at their own pace.

For tutors, they mean:

• Making each session more productive and impactful.
• Saving them from needing extra-prep.
• Enabling better progress monitoring.

4. Looking ahead: How will AI continue to change the future of education?

Bigai: I strongly believe that the combination of human teachers with AI assistance is the future of education.

AI gives us the ability to generate highly-personalized content and curricula at the student's level, to develop self-study targeted at that student's specific areas of focus, and provide real-time feedback on student performance. It will impact how people learn and teach, without question.

That said, teachers have played a critical role in guiding students in the use of new technologies for thousands of years. We believe that no matter how technology evolves, the guidance and human connection they provide will remain the most powerful driver of learning.

5. Why it's important: Language learning is a huge and ever-increasing market — how does Preply stand out from competitors and how has the company's AI use and mindset contributed to this?

Bigai: At Preply, we believe that human connection is the secret ingredient to progress. Our tutors are the foundation of our platform — providing motivation and support for our learners to grow.

Key numbers: A recent LeanLab Education study of 144 participants learning English on Preply for 12 weeks showed that 97% reported practicing with a real person is very important when learning a new language.

In fact, 1 out of 3 students jumped a full CEFR level and advanced in all skills tested including speaking, reading, writing, fluency and more.

Our approach to AI is different from that of our competitors. Working directly with our learners and tutors gives us an advantage in building the best AI for language learning, all to support them — not in lieu of them.

6. Here's what else: Do you see a world where AI replaces human tutors on the Preply platform? Why or why not?

Bigai: Tutors will always be core to the Preply platform — it's what makes us stand out to learners who want to achieve real progress. While AI-first and self-learning alternatives can be a great starting point for learning, we've found that progression tends to plateau after a certain point.

Other language learning platforms may be using AI in place of humans for content creation — but we are using AI to enable humans to better, and more accurately, create and tailor content for their students.

Our take is that we are the most advanced AI learning company, and we're the only one combining the world's most effective AI for learning with the largest network of top-tier tutors.

Only Preply delivers both at a truly global scale, enabling learners to achieve their language goals faster, smarter, and better than anywhere else.

It's our unique combination — utilizing the power of humans + AI, that will change learning forever.

Learn how Preply is powering the future of learning.