Translation students’ perceptions of the integration of artificial intelligence in translation education: a constructivist approach

Purpose This study aims to explore how translation students perceive and engage with artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within translation education, focusing on their applications, preparedness, challenges and expectations for future training. Design/methodology/approach Guided by Constructivist Learning Theory, a qualitative research design was employed. Open-ended responses were collected from 45 translation students through an online survey. A thematic approach was used to analyze the data, focusing on their perceptions, readiness and limitations of AI use in translation education. Findings Three thematic dimensions were identified: (1) Perceptions of AI Integration. Students generally recognize the benefits of AI, including improved efficiency, productivity and translation accuracy, while expressing concerns about overreliance, potential job displacement, and the erosion of human creativity; (2) Student Readiness for AI-assisted Translation. Students’ exposure to formal AI tra