Collaborative Efforts Between Artificial Intelligence and English Language and Literature Learners for Indonesia's Mysterious Future

BY AKHMAD HIDAYAT

Globalization is a familiar topic, and English mastery is undeniably crucial for international competition. English functions not only as a tool of communication but also as a window to both academic and non-academic knowledge. On the other hand, technological developments, particularly social media and artificial intelligence (AI), have significantly accelerated the flow of information and simplified many aspects of daily life. However, the rise of these technologies has led both society and academics to ask the same question: "What role do English language and literature learners play in this AI-driven world? Are they still needed?" 

Digital technology has transformed the way we learn English. In the past, resources were limited to books, dictionaries, or experts, requiring direct help if those failed. Today, learners can study English without leaving their homes. Platforms such as Duolingo, YouTube, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and of course Google Translate, have revolutionized language acquisition. With AIpowered tools, people can even simulate conversations with native speakers. The benefits of these advancements are undeniable. Yet, for English language and literature students, this convenience can be a double-edged sword.

Many Indonesian universities offer English language and literature programs. In South Sulawesi, Hasanuddin University, Makassar State University, and Alauddin State Islamic University are among them. At Hasanuddin University, for instance, 289 students applied for the program in 2024 through the SNBP (National Selection Based on Achievement) pathway, excluding other admission routes. Meanwhile, interest at UIN Alauddin Makassar—an Islamic-based university—is even higher. This shows that interest in English studies remains strong. However, job prospects for graduates remain unclear. With AI's rise, many students feel their English learning efforts are becoming "pointless," suggesting AI might be kicking English learners out of picture. 

In reality, AI presents a wealth of opportunities for everyone, including students of English language and literature. Since the rise of AI, many new jobs have emerged that didn’t exist before, such as AI content reviewer, conversation designer, or AI training data annotator. AI has also drastically sped up work processes that once took hours or days, but now completed in minutes or seconds. So why not see AI as a tool of opportunity, rather than competition?

It’s true that learning English through AI or social media platforms has become easier. But English literature and language departments offer far more than just vocabulary or grammar lessons. Students study semantics and pragmatics, how meaning is conveyed, both explicitly and implicitly. They learn about psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics, how language is influenced by human cognition and social structures. They explore literary criticism, how to analyze, interpret, and evaluate literary works across different cultures and eras. This means that English studies are not outdated or irrelevant. As long as human beings exist, this field will continue to have relevance.

So how can we view AI as a partner rather than a threat? Just as interdisciplinary studies such as psycholinguistics and sociolinguistics combine language with psychology and sociology, English language and literature must evolve by integrating knowledge of computing and AI. A clear example is the emergence of computational linguists—experts who understand the structure of language and apply that knowledge to machine learning and programming languages like Python or Java. Other related roles include Natural Language Processing (NLP) engineers, who build applications like chatbots, virtual assistants, and grammar checkers. Equally important are language data specialists—professionals who collect, annotate, and manage text and speech data to train AI models. These roles cannot be fulfilled without a strong understanding of language, literature, and culture.

Ultimately, both AI and social media are merely tools. Whether they become beneficial or harmful depends entirely on the user. Young people, especially English language and literature students, have the potential to continue learning, adapting, and innovating. They are future changemakers, capable of producing creative ideas. Based on the above points, it is not surprising to believe that new disciplines and job sectors related to language and literature may emerge in the future.

Of course, Indonesia still faces more fundamental challenges like poverty, education, and healthcare. But as technology becomes increasingly embedded in our society, we must also give it serious attention. Ideally, AI should not become humanity’s enemy, but rather a partner that can help us build a better yet mysterious future.

Looking forward to the future also means getting ready to deal with whatever problems will come. The question of whether literature and language departments are still suitable in a world with so much AI is definitely a difficult one. This essay suggests a way out by using AI as a tool. I hope this article can be useful to many people, students and everyone.