CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF MULTILINGUAL AI TOOLS USE FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF RURAL COMMUNITIES IN KPK PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study explores the challenges and opportunities of using multilingual AI tools, such as ChatGPT, among university students from rural communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. While higher education in the region increasingly requires proficiency in multiple languages—primarily English, Urdu, and Pashto—students from rural backgrounds often face linguistic, technological, and infrastructural barriers that hinder their academic performance. Using a qualitative research design, this study draws on semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with university students from rural areas of KPK. The findings highlight both the potential benefits and the limitations of multilingual AI integration in higher education. On the one hand, students reported that ChatGPT’s multilingual features enhanced their comprehension of academic materials, supported translation across English, Urdu, and Pashto, and offered personalized assistance in writing and research. On the other hand, issues such as limited internet connectivity, lack of digital literacy, mistrust of AI-generated content, and insufficient representation of local dialects posed significant challenges. The study concludes that while multilingual AI tools hold promise in reducing educational inequalities, their successful adoption in rural KPK requires context-sensitive strategies, including improved infrastructure, training for digital literacy, and the incorporation of regional languages into AI systems. This research contributes to ongoing debates on the role of artificial intelligence in inclusive and equitable higher education in multilingual societies.