Duolingo has announced a significant overhaul of its learning experience by retiring its long-standing “hearts” system and introducing a new “energy” model. The change aims to create a more engaging, gamified experience while reducing the punitive feel often associated with making mistakes in lessons.

According to the company, the new energy system will fully replace the hearts mechanism, which had frequently drawn criticism from users for hindering progress after repeated errors. Instead of losing hearts for mistakes, learners will now use energy units, which can be partially replenished through consistent study habits.

The rollout of the new system has already begun on the iOS platform. Meanwhile, the hearts system will remain active on Android devices at least until the end of the year.

This transition aligns with Duolingo’s broader strategy to expand its language offerings and enhance personalized learning through artificial intelligence. Duolingo’s CEO emphasized that this move underscores the company’s position as a leading AI-first platform.