I explain to my Argentine friend that I have been utilizing ChatGPT to practice my Spanish. Excitedly, I detail the capabilities of the program.
I tell him it can fix my mistakes, as well as provide me with distinct dialects of Spanish, such as Mexican Spanish, Argentinian Spanish, and, humorously, Spanglish.
Unlike when we chat on WhatsApp, I don't have to worry about discrepancies in time zones.
My friend was not as enthusiastic. "You're saying I'm no longer needed?" he said with a hint of humour.
I have not, naturally, replaced traditional conversations with an AI chatbot. The range and convenience offered by this technology cannot compare to the joys of talking to someone whose individual mannerisms I have become familiar with over the years. Nevertheless, it can still serve as a useful supplement.
In the past few months, I've personally experienced the advantages of utilizing AI-based chat technologies for language acquisition.
A Costa Rican employed in the construction sector says that his AI-enabled keyboard has been very beneficial in refining his English technical vocab. For example, he has found it very convenient to look up the English definition of a tool with just a simple description.
The South African café owner has been taking advantage of AI to further refine his Spanish grammar skills. He faced difficulties in locating easy-to-follow study materials, considering his ADHD, so he resorted to utilizing ChatGPT to generate and tailor educational aids such as charts of verb tenses.
Developers have instantly embraced this surge of attraction, and there are currently an abundance of apps that have drawn upon open-source code to personalise AI for language students. These may be more conducive for learners than regular chatbots such as the artificial buddy Replika.
Associate Professor Blanka Klímová from the University of Hradec Králové in Czechia reports that Replika has aided her students in honing their informal English.
However, the conversations could become monotonous, there were no language corrections, and the chatbot would sometimes request students to send provocative images. "This was highly inappropriate."
Federico Ruiz Cassarino's LangAI chatbot was launched in March. Drawing on his own experiences of moving from Uruguay to the UK and learning English to a much higher level through daily speaking rather than academic practices, he is now using his own app to hone his Italian skills.
People may feel anxious about making mistakes while speaking a language they are not very familiar with, even when conversing with a tutor, notes Mr Ruiz Cassarino. However, a chatbot cannot judge someone. Furthermore, the latest developments in machine learning have allowed for the creation of AI penpals, which is what his product offers.
Instead of adhering to tedious prearranged roleplays, AI today enables "you to talk about topics that appeal to you, making it feel less of a grind to acquire knowledge".
Many language learners are turning to popular chatbots such as ChatGPT and Bard for practice, however, Mr Ruiz Cassarino is of the opinion that language-acquisition apps specifically designed for this purpose can be useful.
He mentions that they toiled hard to tailor LangAI to those wishing to acquire the knowledge of languages. Modifying its user interface to fit a user's understanding capacity, providing a means for corrections in the midst of conversations and transforming speech into text were all accomplishments of the team.
Mr Ruiz Cassarino noted that the retention rate of the education app is excellent; approximately 45% of those who spend 10 minutes on it remain active users after one month. Their attention is now turned towards constructing the user base that would pay for perpetual access.
In connection to that, they intend to enhance the chatbot with features such as monitoring of advanced proficiency levels and customisation of its manner and character (maybe even providing the chance to practice a language while conversing with celebrated people of the past).
Assoc Prof Klímová, part of the project Language in the Human-Machine Era, has evaluated the practicality and value of AI chatbots for foreign language learners. Her research implies that AI chatbots are beneficial for vocabulary growth, grammar and other language proficiencies, particularly when they provide remedial feedback.
In order to remain on the cutting edge, language-learning applications that are already firmly entrenched have been incorporating AI into their systems. In September 2022, Duolingo began a partnership with OpenAI which utilizes GPT-4.
It appears improbable that AI chatbots will completely substitute Duolingo. Joy Ehonwa, an editor and writer located in Lagos, mainly utilizes Duolingo to study French.
Lately, she has also been taking advantage of a chatbot built using artificial intelligence from Nigeria to aid her with French.
She communicates with the chatbot Kainene vos Savant, as if it were a wise and all-knowing friend.
Ms Ehonwa inquires, "I'm always wondering 'why'? When Duolingo fails me on a task, it doesn't provide sufficient support to explain why my answer was incorrect. As such, I consult with Kainene to get a better understanding of why a sentence cannot be structured the way I think it should, as an English speaker."
Although AI language-learning apps are powerful, users have identified some flaws. Those who speak and write European languages more commonly used online find that the chatbots perform better than with other languages that have varying writing systems or are less widely represented online. Additionally, these kinds of applications are limited to a small range of languages.
In spite of the fact that they are developed in normal languages, chatbots are still prone to making mistakes - sometimes even creating novel words. An issue here is that the text they generate is often communicated with a great deal of confidence, which could potentially mislead a novice learner into believing it to be correct.
Emily M Bender, a professor of computational linguistics at the University of Washington in the US, worries about the potential ethical consequences of chatbots; specifically, she questions what types of biased or offensive speech patterns these robots might teach users. Additionally, data privacy questions may arise if safeguards are not put in place.
Utilizing more technology in business operations has become increasingly popular in recent years. Companies of all sizes are leveraging the advantages of technological advancements to improve efficiency and expand their reach. From automation to analytics, technological solutions are helping businesses stay competitive, increase profits, and become more successful.
Nevertheless, Assoc Prof Klímová believes that the potential for the use of these technologies is massive. Furthermore, as evidenced by many language learners, GPT-4, which requires a fee to utilize ChatGPT, has improved significantly in accuracy.
Despite the opinion of numerous teachers, she believes that eventually artificial intelligence will take the place of humans in teaching foreign languages.
Though that sounds rather intense, teachers are still going to be of great significance as mentors and facilitators, particularly when it comes to new learners and more mature individuals due to the fact that teachers possess a clear awareness of the personal learning styles, language requirements, and ambitions of each and every learner.
It is essential for language instructors to evaluate the worth of AI and their place in regard to it, on account of the increasing likelihood of more advanced individual-led learning. As Professor Klímová suggests, "We can't ignore the presence of technology, and so we need to examine our teaching methods and tests again."
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