AI and the quest for equity, equality, and justice in language education: an introduction

Abstract

This chapter establishes a conceptual and critical examination of artificial intelligence in language education through the integrated lenses of equity, equality, and justice. It argues that the integration of artificial intelligence into language learning constitutes not a neutral technological advancement but a socio-political intervention, one that redistributes opportunities, validates or erases linguistic identities, and reconfigures power relations among learners, educators, and institutions. The chapter defines and distinguishes the core concepts of equity, equality, and justice as they apply to artificial intelligence-mediated language education, maps the landscape of current artificial intelligence applications and their implications for educational equity, and introduces theoretical frameworks that inform justice-oriented approaches in the field. It concludes by articulating a call to action for researchers and teachers to collectively shape artificial intelligence futures that centre the most marginalised learners.