OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF CHATGPT AS A LEARNING ASSISTANT FOR UZBEK EFL STUDENTS

This article examines the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of ChatGPT as a learning assistant for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in Uzbekistan. As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly integrated into educational settings globally, it is essential to evaluate their practical implications within specific sociolinguistic and pedagogical contexts. The study draws on current literature in AI-assisted language learning, translation studies, and EFL pedagogy to analyze how ChatGPT can support vocabulary acquisition, writing development, and communicative practice, while also identifying the limitations that arise from over-reliance, technological inequity, and cultural-linguistic gaps. The findings suggest that ChatGPT holds significant potential as a supplementary educational resource, provided that it is used critically and guided by informed instructors.