A New Era of Language and Technology
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is not just changing how we communicate. It is reshaping the very foundations of how languages are learned, preserved, and passed down. As thousands of languages face extinction, AI has emerged as a powerful ally in safeguarding linguistic diversity. At the same time, it is transforming the way people across the world acquire new languages through personalised learning, real-time feedback, and immersive experiences. This article explores the growing impact of AI on language preservation and education, the opportunities it offers, and the challenges that lie ahead.
AI in Language Preservation: Saving Voices from Disappearing
Around half of the world’s 7,000 languages are at risk of vanishing by the end of the century, according to UNESCO. In response, AI technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning, and speech recognition are being used to document, digitise, and revitalise endangered languages.
Key developments in 2025 include:
- Digital Archiving of Rare Languages: AI-powered tools are transcribing and translating oral histories in languages like Navajo, Welsh, and Shona. In 2024, the Living Tongues Institute used AI to record over 50 hours of spoken Yuchi, a Native American language with fewer than a dozen fluent speakers.
- Automated Translation for Low-Resource Languages: Meta AI and other research groups have developed machine learning models that provide real-time translations, even for languages with limited digital presence.
- Community-Led Tools: Google’s Language Preservation API, launched in 2025, supports over 200 languages and enables indigenous communities to create their own dictionaries, learning apps, and teaching resources.
These tools have collectively contributed to preserving more than 1,000 endangered languages, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations.
AI in Language Learning: Smarter, Faster, More Engaging
AI is also redefining language education by making it more adaptive, engaging, and widely accessible. With over 1.5 billion people using AI-powered language learning apps in 2025, a 20 percent rise from the previous year (Statista), digital tools are now central to modern learning strategies.
Some major innovations include:
- Personalised Learning Paths: Platforms like Duolingo and Babbel use AI to tailor lesson difficulty and content based on each learner’s progress. A 2024 Education Next study reported that such adaptive learning improved retention by up to 30 percent.
- Immersive Virtual Reality (VR): Applications like MondlyVR simulate real-world conversations in virtual settings, boosting fluency in languages like Mandarin and Spanish. In early 2025 trials, users reported a 25 percent improvement in verbal proficiency.
- Real-Time Pronunciation Feedback: Updated versions of tools like Rosetta Stone now offer instant voice recognition feedback, helping users master difficult languages such as Arabic and Russian in less time.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Despite its benefits, the use of AI in language raises several concerns:
- Data Bias: If AI models are trained on limited or skewed datasets, they may reinforce existing biases or overlook dialectal variations. This risks underrepresenting certain communities.
- Privacy Issues: Language apps often collect and store user data. In 2024, one leading language platform came under scrutiny for sharing user data without transparent consent, highlighting the need for stricter GDPR compliance.
- Cultural Oversimplification: AI translations can miss cultural context or nuance, especially in Indigenous languages. In early 2025, critics pointed out that Google Translate struggled with accurate interpretations of Native American phrases, sparking debate over cultural sensitivity.
Global Reach and Equity
One of AI’s most promising contributions is its ability to bridge educational gaps:
- In India, apps like LingQ now support 15 regional languages, contributing to a reported 10 percent rise in rural literacy (UNESCO, 2024).
- In Kenya and other African nations, AI tools are used to support bilingual education, helping students learn Swahili and English side by side.
Looking ahead, AI is expected to support 90 percent of the world’s languages by 2030, up from 60 percent in 2025 (Forbes). Technologies like neural machine translation and augmented reality (AR) promise even deeper immersion and cultural connection.
The Future Speaks Through AI
In 2025, artificial intelligence is driving a quiet revolution in language. It is helping preserve the world’s linguistic heritage while making language learning more inclusive, dynamic, and effective. Though challenges such as privacy, bias, and cultural nuance remain, the opportunities are vast. With careful implementation and global cooperation, AI could shape a future where no language is lost and everyone has the tools to learn and connect across borders.
