ai-powered tools and their utilization among iranian phd students in elt: opportunities, challenges, and implications

During the last few years, technological advancements, in general. and artificial intelligence (ai), in particular, have revolutionized the educational landscape, specifically teaching practices and learning environments. regarding the fact that in our country, iran, there is limited research on how ai impacts teaching effectiveness, this study aimed to delve into the utilization of ai-powered tools among iranian phd students in english language teaching (elt), highlighting their opportunities, challenges, and implications. ai technologies are, in fact, increasingly transforming educational practices, yet their adoption within iranian higher education, particularly in elt, seems to have remained underexplored. through a qualitative phenomenological approach, interviews were conducted with iranian phd students to uncover their experiences with ai tools. the findings revealed a range of benefits, including enhanced efficiency and improved learning outcomes, alongside significant challenges such as digital literacy gaps, infrastructural limitations, and cultural resistance. this study provides critical insights into the factors shaping ai adoption among iranian elt scholars and offers recommendations to maximize its potential while addressing existing barriers.