ET310: Applied Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence

Overview

Large-language model (LLM) artificial intelligence (AI) systems are evolving and expanding rapidly and dramatically— in terms of technological capabilities, practical applications, and roles in people's lives. Applied linguists are uniquely positioned to shape LLM AI and to influence the ways that people act and interact with, through, about, and because of LLM AI. Indeed, applied linguists arguably have a responsibility to engage with LLM AI, as scholars who can offer insights into language structure, communicative interaction, knowledge and truth, teaching and learning, ethicality, and social justice. This module will probe the intersections of applied linguistics and AI to prepare students to understand LLM AI, and to engage, challenge, critique, improve, and apply these systems as scholars and professionals. Following a symposium approach, module content will evolve according to research and teaching activities within Applied Linguistics at Warwick, giving students exposure to active innovations in LLM AI and applied linguistics.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Evaluate uses of AI technologies in a range of contexts.
• Construct an informationally rigorous and intellectually valid artefact using AI.
• Critique popular and scientific discourses about AI.
• Reflect on strategies for using AI.
• Analyse AI outputs according to concepts from linguistic and communication sciences.
• Explain applied linguistic perspectives on AI to academic audiences.
• Create strategies for using AI in applied and professional settings.
• Explain applied linguistic perspectives on AI to non-academic audiences.
• Assess the quality of information generated by AI.
• Defend decisions to draw on human intelligence versus AI.

Learning Experience

Lecture

Core content will be presented during weekly 2-hour lectures.

Seminar

We will meet in a weekly 1-hour small-group seminar to practice and apply course concepts.

Assessment

Human-AI collaborative research project

1500-word research project: Collaborate with AI to conduct and create an original applied linguistics research project that advances knowledge on a topic introduced in the module.

Framework for AI in an applied setting

1000-word policy brief: Produce guidelines for using AI in a professional (or other applied) context which are actionable, persuasive, and informed by applied linguistic knowledge.

Meta-analysis of Human-AI collaboration

1500-word reflective piece: From an applied linguistics perspective, document, describe, analyse, and assess strategies for collaborating with AI to write the "Human-AI collaborative research project".

Preparatory Reading

• Mollick, E. (2024). Co-Intelligence: Living and working with AI. WH Allen.
• Wolfram, S. (2023). What is ChatGPT doing, and why does it work? Wolfram Media.