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Before Going to Tokyo, I Tried Learning Japanese With ChatGPT
WIRED tests the benefits and limitations of using generative AI, specifically ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode, as a language tutor for travelers.
To better understand how AI voice tools might transform the future of language learning, I spent a month practicing Japanese with the ChatGPT smartphone app before traveling to Tokyo for the first time. During conversation sessions with the Advanced Voice Mode that usually lasted around 30 minutes, I often approached it as my synthetic, over-the-phone language tutor, practicing basic travel phrases for navigating transportation, restaurants, and retail shops. I was able to ask for help from one of the station staff members, but instead of saying “thank you” ( arigato gozaimasu) at the end, my tired mind blurted out the phrase for “this one, please” ( kore wo onegaishimasu) as I confidently strode away.
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