Generative AI for Learning and Teaching Arabic: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations

Abstract

This paper reviews the transformative potential of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) for Arabic language learning and teaching, with a focus on opportunities, challenges, and ethical considerations. Recognizing that Arabic remains a low-resource language despite its global significance, our methodology was structured around two guiding research questions. For RQ1 (Current Landscape)—examining the state of research on GenAI in language education—we conducted a systematic literature search across Scopus, Web of Science, and Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA). This process retrieved 87 records, from which a small but focused body of studies met the inclusion criteria. The concentration of relevant works underscores both the novelty of the field and the urgent need for foundational research, while ensuring transparency, reproducibility, and rigor in identifying and analyzing the emerging body of relevant work. For RQ2 (Transferability of Insights)—investigating what lessons from English language learning can inform Arabic contexts—we employed a purposeful sampling strategy, selecting representative and influential English-language studies from systematic reviews and expert recommendations. This combination balances breadth with depth: the systematic search establishes a reliable evidence base, while purposeful sampling enables focused analysis of best practices in mature domains. Building on these methods, the paper makes three contributions: it delivers a comprehensive synthesis of current trends, applications, and limitations of GenAI in language education; it identifies the unique opportunities and challenges for Arabic, particularly its linguistic complexity and resource scarcity; and it highlights ethical and cultural considerations, including bias, data privacy, and the preservation of linguistic identity. To our knowledge, this is the first survey dedicated to GenAI in Arabic language education, offering a structured foundation for future research, pedagogical innovation, and responsible implementation.