Many GenAI tools now offer innovative ways to turn learning a language info a fun process. However, as technology learns to translate and speak languages better than humans, many people may wonder why they should learn a language at all.
Learning a language used to require buying one or more textbooks, and ideally attending a course with a native speaker professor. Then, thanks to the internet, people started gaining access to online learning material, although often not free, scattered through various websites, and not customized.
Thanks to GenAI, people all around the world can now access free language learning tools, in one place, and in a customizable way.
On generalistic tools such as ChatGPT or Gemini, a user can ask for translations or single words or even entire texts, explanations of grammar rules, and practice dialogues and exercises that they can complete and receive feedback about. ChatGPT also offers a Language Learner page, which supports 20+ languages and features Interactive storytelling, customized lessons for all levels, and the possibility to practice speaking through the mobile app (OpenAI, 2025).
Of course, many GenAI-native applications have been released as well. For example, Gliglish offers the possibility to dialogue with a “virtual teacher,” role‑play real scenarios, and receive live feedback (Gliglish, 2025). Another example is Xeropan, a gamified learning tool which features bots to practice conversations (Xeropan, 2025). Diffit creates differentiated exercise materials based on proficiency level, and is used not only by learners but also by language teachers to prepare their lessons (Diffit, 2025).
More traditional language learning apps have also felt the need to adopt GenAI to amplify their offer and remain competitive in the market. For example, Duolingo has introduced Duolingo Max, a learning experience powered by gpt-4. These AI-powered features Explain My Answer and Roleplay allow users to get personalized feedback on their answers and practice real-world conversation skills with world characters respectively (Duolingo Team, 2023).
It appears clear that GenAI has mastered the knowledge of languages.
And this is in line with the fact that it is proving to be a major threat to the work of translators. Surveys have found that more than a third of translators have lost work due to GenAI, and more than four in 10 translators stated that their income has decreased because of it (Creamer, 2024).
Moreover, people are increasingly using GenAI-powered tools not only to decode text, but also to speak. You can talk into the phone and have your sentence translated seconds later. While traditional translation tools such as Google Translate had the limitation of being too literal instead of capturing the true meaning of a sentence, GenAI knows how to paraphrase to produce more natural, idiomatic forms (Johnson, 2023). Apple has also recently announced that the new Airpods will feature live translation, with the beta release supporting English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish (Apple Inc., 2025).
This indicates a current limit of such GenAI features, which is that they are currently highly developed just for some main languages, although of course, it is only a matter of time until they can be trained to reach proficiency in many new languages as well. Moreover, Apple Inc. clarifies that the feature will likely not be available to users in the European Union (Apple Inc., 2025). This shows that such live translation features also present regulatory challenges in terms of privacy. Indeed many translators are calling for ethical regulation, and a large number of them demand credit or compensation in case their work is used to train GenAI tools (Creamer, 2024).
The central question is: What impact will GenAI have on language learning in the long term?
Experts with a more “negative” perspective on the impact of GenAI argue that, because translation tools exist, people may see less need to learn a foreign language for practical communication purposes, especially in the context of traveling (Johnson, 2023).
Some are more positive, stating that people will still want to learn languages for intellectual or emotional reasons, and they will leverage technology such as GenAI to do so (Johnson, 2023). From a professional perspective, some expert translators explain that while basic material may be translated with GenAI, literary translation (where the texts are more stylistically complex) will keep requiring human translators.
Personally, I do not believe that GenAI will eliminate language learning. Languages can give us way more than the ability to communicate: they are also useful to understand different cultures and create deeper connections with people that have a different mother tongue.
And now I pass the word to you! Do you like learning languages? Are you using any GenAI tools to learn a language? And do you think that learning languages is still useful?
References
Apple Inc. (2025, September 17). Use Live Translation with your AirPods. Apple Support. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://support.apple.com/en-us/123185
Creamer, E. (2024, April 16). Survey finds generative AI proving major threat to the work of translators. The Guardian. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/16/survey-finds-generative-ai-proving-major-threat-to-the-work-of-translators
Diffit. (n.d.). AI-powered differentiation for every classroom. Diffit. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://web.diffit.me
Duolingo Team. (2023, March 14). Introducing Duolingo Max, a learning experience powered by GPT-4. Duolingo Blog. https://blog.duolingo.com/duolingo-max/
Gliglish. (n.d.). Speak to learn a language with AI. Gliglish. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://gliglish.com/
Johnson, “Culture.” (2023, August 17). AI could make it less necessary to learn foreign languages. The Economist. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/08/17/ai-could-make-it-less-necessary-to-learn-foreign-languages
OpenAI. (n.d.). Language Learner [Custom GPT]. ChatGPT. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from https://chatgpt.com/g/g-SrsGydMuG-language-learner?model=gpt-4o
OpenAI. (2025). GenAI and the language learning paradox. Generated with DALL·E.
Xeropan. (n.d.). Learn English & other languages with AI. Retrieved October 8, 2025, from Xeropan
