Bridging the gaps: Exploring AI-driven emotional, academic, and social support for international students

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into the academic and social lives of internationalstudents has opened new pathways for support during their transitions. This qualitative studyexplores the multifaceted role of AI-driven platforms in addressing the emotional, academic, andsocial challenges faced by international students in Turkey. Thematic analysis of semi-structuredinterviews with 30 participants revealed four overarching themes: emotional support, academicfacilitation, social integration, and Ethical Concerns, each accompanied by unique sub-themes. AItools such as ChatGPT, Replika, and Duolingo provided emotional relief during isolation, simplifiedcomplex academic concepts, enhanced language proficiency, and boosted communication confi-dence in social contexts. However, participants also expressed concerns about over-reliance anddata privacy, highlighting ethical considerations in the adoption of AI tools. These findings under-score the potential of AI to complement traditional support systems and provides valuableinsights for educators, policymakers, and developers aiming to leverage AI in enhancing the expe-riences of international students