Artificial intelligence tools and literary translation: a comparative investigation of ChatGPT and Google Translate from novice and advanced EFL student translators’ perspectives

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies based on Large Language Models (LLMs) is reshaping the translation landscape, particularly by facilitating unprecedented levels of translation efficiency. To unlock the potential of (AI) tools in facilitating intercultural understanding and bridging language barriers in literary translation, this study examined the perspectives of 63 Saudi EFL student translators (27 novices, 36 advanced) on literary translations generated by Google Translate (GT) and ChatGPT. It compares their evaluations in terms of accuracy, fluency, and cultural understanding. This mixed-methods study collected quantitative and qualitative data utilizing a pre-survey, a questionnaire, and reflection sheets. The findings revealed that both groups used machine translation tools, with advanced students perceiving themselves as more proficient. While no significant differences emerged between groups in perceptions of ChatGPT and GT—except higher trust in GT accuracy among novices—both groups favored ChatGPT for literary translation. Qualitative data provided deeper insights into student translators’ evaluations. Both groups of students were negative toward GT, pointing out its deficiency in capturing the linguistic and cultural nuances of original literary texts, and they were more appreciative of translations produced by ChatGPT, highlighting its various affordances in reaching satisfactory translation results. Pedagogical implications are presented and discussed. .