Artificial intelligence has changed the world of language learning, seemingly for the better, but it has its limitations. No matter how advanced, AI can’t replicate learning a language in the classroom.  

As it functions today, ChatGPT — a chatbot OpenAI launched in 2022 — is capable of everything from answering homework questions to making an itinerary for a two-week trip to Milan. In either case, the bot pulls data from the internet, sometimes resulting in inaccurate information. 

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ChatGPT, while an impressive feat of engineering, is a perfect example of how AI has become mainstream, symbolizing a shift toward automation and a mentality that emphasizes efficiency at the expense of nuance. That mentality has no place in language learning.

Machine translation is nothing new, having existed for quite some time. Popular services that use it, like Google Translate, DeepL Translator and Translate.com, can be useful supplements for language learners, with some offering audio and image translation.

That being said, they have their limits.

On TikTok, user @xiaomanyc, a polyglot that makes content about language acquisition, has incorporated AI into language learning. In his most popular videos, he walks into a small store and speaks fluently in the language of the shop owner, often shocking them.

In December, the social media star announced the release of the service under the name YourTeacher.ai. In the video, he showcased the capabilities of the program by showing himself learning Portuguese with it, the idea here being that any viewer could learn to speak a new language with the bot. 

Rather than speak at a blank screen, the service has an avatar that is supposed to embody the culture and people who speak that language. 

Xiaomanyc asked Laura Pereira, the Portuguese-speaking artificial intelligence bot, to simulate an  exchange at a Brazilian cafe. In response, the program greeted him and asked him to choose between an assortment of foods available at the cafe. He responded and, when he made a mistake, it corrected him. 

The program and others like it, which offer real-time interactions where users can hear the language being spoken and practice without the fear of being judged, have the potential to revolutionize language learning.

When I first saw the video, I was impressed, like many of the people in the comments, but still felt it was too good to be true.  

For starters, there are a few problems with the model. In a traditional classroom, there are numerous benefits to being in the presence of a real-life — flesh and blood –— teacher. Aside from being able to hear someone speak and have them correct your pronunciation, there are other advantages.

Something as simple as observing someone adjust the shape of their mouth is extremely important when learning a new language. In one study, researchers found that infants more adept at language expression tended to focus more on the mouth when someone was talking. 

Of course, those seeking to use AI to learn languages aren’t infants but there is evidence to support the notion that observing mouth shape, something that can only be done in real-life interactions, improves language acquisition. 

This isn’t to say that AI doesn’t have its benefits. It can be accessed anywhere with the internet, isn’t costly when compared to classes and tutoring and is designed to go at the pace of the student. However, it’s still not perfect.

Having a teacher observe and correct your tongue placement, breath control and emphasis on certain words is invaluable and can be the difference between someone understanding you or looking at you confused.

Another benefit to classroom learning is being able to practice with multiple people. That’s not to say one-on-one classes are ineffective, but being able to converse with a larger group provides more opportunities for practice. 

All of this is lost with AI. While YourTeacher.ai could be a great tool to use, learning a new language requires human conversation. Intonation, pronunciation and cultural understanding cannot be replicated by AI. 

As a former trilingual child who is now bilingual — I used to speak Swahili but now only English and Spanish — I appreciate the role language has played in my life. I appreciate the connections I’ve been able to make and how it’s altered my perspective. 

The bottom line remains clear, however: AI can’t teach you a new language. It can smooth the process, but there is no substitute for a teacher.