Artificial intelligence and foreign languages: why learning languages matters more than ever

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ is misleading. Unlike human intelligence, AI recognizes statistical patterns and excels at specific, well-defined tasks but struggles with ambiguity, irony, and complex human conversation.
Translation, viewed as vulnerable to automation, requires deep context understanding and cultural comprehension – skills AI cannot replicate.
The shift from Automation to Augmentation: AI’s role is not to replace but to enhance human capabilities, focusing on value creation rather than cost efficiency.
Meta-skills like critical thinking, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are central to leveraging AI effectively. These skills blend ‘hard’ technical skills with ‘soft’ human skills like empathy and leadership.
The strategic role of language teachers: They cultivate skills essential for navigating between linguistic and cultural systems, recognizing otherness, and negotiating meanings – abilities a machine cannot develop on behalf of humans.
The overarching principle of Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence emphasizes that technology should serve human needs and responsibilities, ensuring decisions, relationships, and meaningful conversations remain in human hands.

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