Over a year has passed since ChatGPT's release sent shockwaves through the tech industry. Despite recent warnings that the potential of such AI has been overhyped, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in February with Americans revealed a rapid increase in the number of people using ChatGPT. Notably, 20% of respondents reported using ChatGPT for work purposes, representing a two-thirds increase compared to data from July of last year. Including the 17% increase in those using it for learning purposes, it's undeniable that ChatGPT's influence is expanding faster than we initially anticipated.
Most importantly, we must recognize that contemplating how we can utilize ChatGPT is only in its initial stages. OpenAI continues to mention the advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), preparing for the release of the next generation of ChatGPT. Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft are redirecting their workforce to redesign all their product lines to incorporate this interactive AI. Furthermore, various startups are proposing tailored models specializing in specific tasks for business clients, such as translation and marketing. It seems evident that more individuals will utilize AI tools in the future.
However, we need to consider what we might lose in exchange for the novel and convenient benefits of this unavoidable technology. A prime example is the loss of opportunities for language skill development. Automated translation features, frequently employed in tasks like composing and checking emails, have already significantly diminished the necessity for everyday language learning. Samsung advertises its new Galaxy S24 smartphone's ability to provide real-time interpretation during phone calls, and language learning service JumpSpeak even faced criticism for a misleading advertisement featuring an AI avatar that falsely claimed to overcome the difficulties of language acquisition.
Dr. Jill Kuziner Bishop, a linguistic anthropologist, asserts that language serves as a vivid and persuasive expression of who we are. Her research reveals the crucial role nuances play in how people use language to establish and express their identities, connect, and form communities. The selection of words, phrases, or metaphors conveys meaning related to ideas, assumptions about the world, relationships between individuals, or regional contexts. In ethnographic analysis, she emphasizes that such nuanced forms constitute core data.
In February, a far-right conspiracy theorist shared an AI-generated clip on X (formerly Twitter) of Hitler delivering a speech in English rather than German, garnering over 15 million views. The experience of hearing Hitler speak in English was novel, and some viewers even left comments suggesting that they were, above all, concerned for their nation. While this incident can currently be dismissed as a single, attention-grabbing event observed online, considering the future where AI will perform tasks faster and more precisely, the implications related to the power of linguistic nuances seem readily apparent.
Currently, most users of AI translation don't spend enough time discerning whether the translation is sufficiently close to the original. Similar to how we've lost the ability to memorize phone numbers, the opportunity to develop the linguistic capacity to identify these differences ourselves may also gradually disappear. Language shapes how individuals interpret reality, and learning to speak, read, and write in another language helps us discover new ways of perceiving the world. No technology can replace these human experiences. Consequently, it may be optimal for schools to proactively offer courses that explore the intercultural aspects of language learning in the future.
The globally popular Netflix drama "Squid Game" features various expressions used when foreigners address Koreans, such as "sajangnim" (boss) and "seonsaengnim" (teacher) when speaking to elders. However, the English translation of these dialogues solely uses "Sir." If viewers can understand the linguistic nuances embedded in this invisible cultural background, their enjoyment of the drama will increase. And this represents a vital opportunity for experience that we should not miss in the future.
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