Artificial intelligence and Latin: technological innovation in the service of classical tradition

Abstract This work focuses on an educational project for third-year students in Italian classical high schools, integrating generative artificial intelligence (AI) into the study of Latin. Using tools like ChatGPT, the project explores innovative methods to enhance linguistic and cultural understanding while promoting ethical AI use. Generative AI enables the study and learning of Latin language and culture through new solutions. This educational activity encourages critical thinking and dialogue on translational and linguistic choices, improving the ability to analyse Latin texts, formulate sentences in Latin, and better understand basic and everyday grammar. Creativity and active use of Latin are also emphasised. Collaborative and individual working methods facilitate the exploration of AI’s advantages and limitations, enriching traditional pedagogy with a modern, interactive approach. The project consists of five modules, each exploring how to integrate AI into the current teaching program for third-year students. Specifically, the modules aim to enhance students’ capabilities in analysing and translating Latin texts, highlighting differences between human-generated and AI-generated results. Students critically compare these methods, refining their grammatical and syntactical understanding. Collaboration and cooperation among students are also emphasised. For example, they use AI to create dialogues in Latin inspired by Plautus’s conversational style. The impact of the activity is assessed through an analysis of students’ translations, ethical reflections, and methodological insights. In this paper, we will share our experience with this experiment, which aims, with the help of technology, to present Latin as a dynamic and living language, underscoring the enduring relevance of the classical tradition in contemporary education.