Analysis of Ethical Dilemmas and Avoidance Strategies in the Application of Artificial Intelligence in International Chinese Language Education

Abstract

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into International Chinese Language Education (ICLE) heralds a paradigm shift, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalized learning, resource accessibility, and pedagogical efficiency. However, this technological advancement is not without its perils. This paper provides a comprehensive conceptual analysis of the multifaceted ethical dilemmas emerging from the application of AI in the ICLE domain. It eschews quantitative analysis in favor of a deep theoretical exploration of the inherent challenges. The core ethical predicaments are identified and categorized into four principal domains: (1) algorithmic bias and the perpetuation of cultural hegemony, which risk marginalizing linguistic and cultural diversity; (2) data privacy infringements and the potential for pervasive learner surveillance, which compromise learner autonomy and security; (3) pedagogical dehumanization and the erosion of the educator's humanistic role, threatening the socio-affective dimensions of language acquisition; and (4) the opacity of AI systems, leading to critical issues of accountability and transparency. In response to these challenges, this paper formulates a corresponding framework of proactive avoidance and mitigation strategies. These strategies advocate for the cultivation of algorithmic fairness through diverse data stewardship, the establishment of robust data governance protocols grounded in ethical design, the reaffirmation of humanistic pedagogy through a "human-in-the-loop" model, and the enhancement of systemic transparency and accountability. The paper concludes that a technologically deterministic approach is untenable. Instead, a critically reflective and ethically grounded integration of AI is imperative to ensure that its deployment in ICLE serves to enrich, rather than undermine, the fundamental humanistic goals of language education and intercultural communication.