Embrace AI, but don’t jettison language learning

For the first time ever in the history of civilization, AI (artificial intelligence) will all but eliminate the language barrier between the world’s major languages. Already well underway, this disruptive advance will come to full fruition within a decade.

That’s how I began a scenario describing how AI is likely to affect journalism in the near future. In other words, AI will seemingly reverse the effects of Babel—and it’s already happening. My colleagues in Australia can use the online translation site DeepL (deepl.com) to read and compose emails in Japanese. ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) even allows them to write emails in an appropriate style for a business context and to include customary greetings and endings that English speakers wouldn’t normally use.

That’s just the beginning. I envision that within ten years, AI will be able to do simultaneous translation between any two major languages. The implications for missions will be huge. For example, short-term missionaries could step off a plane and start evangelizing and discipling in Japanese immediately. They could also participate fully in meetings held entirely in Japanese.

All this will spark a lot of soul-searching about the value of learning languages. Why bother spending years of hard work gaining fluency in Japanese if you can communicate straightaway? But while AI will be a great boon for communication in missions, I don’t think it will do away with the need to learn languages.

People will still be needed

The main reason why language learning won’t become redundant is that no matter how good AI becomes, there is something irreplaceable about conversing with someone who has made the effort to learn your language. I think Japanese people will become even more appreciative of anybody who puts in the time and hard work to learn a language as difficult as Japanese. There’s something about speaking to someone directly without any interfaces that makes it easier to open your heart to them.

At the same time, AI won’t necessarily be able to pick up and communicate cultural nuances, even if it will be good at interpreting and translating the language. In Japan’s high-context culture, words don’t always convey the full meaning of an interaction.

Making language learning easier

Learning and improving Japanese is almost certainly going to continue to be vital in mission. The good news is AI can already facilitate language learning and should help to accelerate it and reduce costs. Many language-learning apps such as Duolingo (duolingo.com) are harnessing the power of AI. This allows the apps, for example, to identify a learner’s weak points and provide exercises that will be most effective in addressing them. Sites such as QuillBot (quillbot.com) can correct the grammar and spelling of text written in various languages as well as summarize and paraphrase passages.

AI may soon also provide conversation partners to talk with. Up until now, you needed a person (preferably a native speaker) to practice conversation with. But there are AI bots in development that a language learner will be able to converse with. The bots are being developed to provide feedback on your conversation and suggest ways to improve, effectively becoming language teachers. This could allow you to gain confidence in speaking before talking to real people. Such services are just beginning to appear: some examples include TalkPal (app.talkpal.ai), Langotalk (www.langotalk.org), Talkio AI (www.talkio.ai), and Hallo (https://www.hallo.ai/).

So by all means get excited about the opportunities that AI may provide for missions, but don’t stop trying to improve your Japanese and to learn more about the culture.