Exploring the Challenges and Obstacles Encountered in Utilizing Artificial Intelligence Tools (AITs) in Translation Teaching from the Perspectives of Faculty Members at Saudi Universities

Abstract

In our world today, the accelerated development of science and technology has elevated the use of artificial intelligence technologies, especially in the realm of translation where the application of artificial intelligence tools has yielded significant changes over the preceding decades. As the need for interpretation and translation rapidly grows, numerous translation tools are emerging; moreover, machine translation technology is growing even more quickly. This study aims to explore the challenges and obstacles encountered in using artificial intelligence tools in translation teaching from the perspective of faculty members at Saudi universities. To achieve the study’s objectives, the author employed the qualitative research method due to its appropriateness. For collecting data, a 14-item questionnaire was dispersed among a purposive sample comprised of 50 faculty members of translation who were chosen at random from several Saudi universities during the first semester of 2023. The findings of this study showed that many faculty members had positive perspectives toward utilizing artificial intelligence tools (AITs) in teaching translation. Moreover, the perspectives of these faculty members on challenges and obstacles toward using artificial intelligence tools (AITs) in teaching translation were notably positive as they are seen by faculty members as something they can tackle as translation technologies become even more integral to translation. The finding also revealed that the faculty members tend to strongly hold the viewpoint that AI has started producing new teaching and learning solutions to translation teaching problems and obstacles that are now experiencing analysis in a variety of contexts in the field of education. Moreover, the findings of the study also verified that education level plays a significant role in the professional development of faculty members at Saudi universities when it comes to learning how to use artificial intelligence tools (AITs).