Artificial intelligence in applied (linguistics): a content analysis and future prospects

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into applied (linguistics) has sparked significant interest due to its transformative potential in language teaching, learning, and research. With the advent of AI language models such as ChatGPT and GPT-4, a comprehensive understanding of their role and impact in the field is imperative. This study provides an extensive content analysis of existing literature on the application of AI, especially focusing on GPT models, to identify how these tools are influencing linguistic scholarship and practice. A systematic review of 73 scholarly articles was conducted, using a content analysis design to categorise literature based on their perspective towards AI in linguistics—whether supportive, opposing, or mixed. Statistical analyses, including a non-parametric one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests, were utilized to discern patterns and correlations within the data. The review revealed a diverse range of applications and viewpoints. While some studies reported the efficacy of AI in language pedagogy and research, others pointed out challenges such as ethical concerns and the quality of AI-generated content. The results were synthesised into a comprehensive table, detailing each study's aim, findings, position, and the specific area of linguistic application. The findings suggest that while AI models like ChatGPT possess considerable promise for enhancing applied and linguistic tasks, their deployment must be tempered with ethical considerations and a commitment to maintaining content quality and authenticity. This study underscores the need for guidelines to navigate the ethical use of AI in (applied) linguistics and highlights the importance of digital competencies for educators and researchers in the field.