Understanding How International Students in the U.S. Are Using Conversational AI to Support Cross-Cultural Adaptation
For international students and university support systems, this paper identifies gaps in current AI use and provides recommendations for tailored AI-powered support.
This study surveyed 60 and interviewed 14 international students in the U.S. to understand how they use conversational AI (e.g., ChatGPT) for cross-cultural adaptation. Results show AI is used as a first-aid tool for immediate challenges, but students desire long-term support companionship.
Moving to a new culture and adapting to a new life, as an international student, can be a stressful experience. In the US, international students face unique overlapping challenges, yet the current support ecosystem, including university support systems and informal social networks, remains largely fragmented. While conversational AI has emerged as a tool used by many (e.g., generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini), we do not have a clear understanding of how international students adopt and perceive these technologies as support tools. We conducted a survey study (n=60) to map the relationship between international students' challenges and AI adoption patterns, followed by an interview study with 14 participants to identify the underlying motivations and boundaries of use. Our findings show that AI is perceived as a first-aid tool for immediate challenges, however, there is an interest in transforming AI from a tool for short-term help into a long-term support companion. By identifying where and how AI can provide long-term support, and where it is insufficient, we contribute recommendations for creating AI-powered support tailored to the unique needs of international students.