Welcome back to Daily Zaps, your regularly-scheduled dose of AI news ⚡️ 

Here’s what we got for ya today:

• 💬 Meta launches a ChatGPT rival

• 🗣️ Google’s NotebookLM now speaks 50+ languages

• 🧠 Duolingo will replace contract workers with AI

• 👩🏻‍💻 Microsoft claims 30% of new code is written by AI

Let’s get right into it!

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BIG TECH

Meta launches a ChatGPT rival

Meta Platforms is launching a stand-alone AI assistant app powered by its Llama model, directly challenging OpenAI's ChatGPT and competing with other AI platforms like Claude, Grok, and Gemini. The new app features a Discover feed to showcase user interactions and prompt ideas, building on Meta’s prior AI integrations into Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. With over 700 million monthly active users as of January, Meta aims to make its assistant the most widely used in 2025.

The launch coincides with Meta’s first LlamaCon developer event and follows similar standalone app efforts from Google and xAI. Investors are closely watching for signs that Meta’s $65 billion AI infrastructure investment will drive meaningful returns, with first-quarter earnings set to be released Wednesday.

BIG TECH

Google’s NotebookLM now speaks 50+ languages

Now powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, Audio Overview is expanding to over 50 languages, including Spanish and Afrikaans, with a new "Output Language" setting allowing users to generate audio and chat responses in their preferred language. Early testers praised the feature's natural-sounding, accurate translations and its ability to keep content conversational and informative, even in languages like Spanish where direct translations often fall short.

Google's NotebookLM has gained attention for its Audio Overview feature, which turns written content into a podcast-style dialogue between two AI hosts, making dense material more engaging and easier to understand—particularly useful for studying or language learning.

BIG TECH

Duolingo will replace contract workers with AI

Duolingo is officially adopting an "AI-first" strategy, aiming to transform its operations by replacing tasks handled by contractors with AI and prioritizing automation across teams. In a company-wide memo, CEO Luis von Ahn explained that this shift will require rethinking how work is done, with AI use becoming a key factor in hiring, performance reviews, and headcount decisions.

The goal is not to replace employees, but to eliminate repetitive tasks so staff can focus on creative problem-solving. Duolingo sees AI as essential to scaling its content and delivering on its educational mission faster and more effectively. This mirrors a broader trend among tech companies, like Shopify, in demanding AI-first justification before adding resources.

BIG TECH

Microsoft claims 30% of new code is written by AI

At Meta's LlamaCon, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella claimed that up to 30% of the company's new software code is now generated by AI, with usage of AI-based code review tools also rising significantly. This aligns with similar statements by Google’s CEO, reflecting the tech industry's growing reliance on generative AI, especially tools like Microsoft Copilot, which integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT across Windows, Office, and other products.

While these claims come from executives with vested interests in AI, they highlight a major shift in how software is being developed. However, despite the public push, Microsoft appears to be scaling back its infrastructure investments for AI, signaling a more cautious approach behind the scenes.