Understanding How International Students in the U.S. Are Using Conversational AI to Support Cross-Cultural Adaptation

TL;DR

This study explores how international students in the U.S. use conversational AI to address cultural adaptation challenges, highlighting their perceptions, motivations, and potential for long-term support.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into international students' AI adoption patterns and offers design recommendations for AI support tailored to their needs.

Findings

AI is seen as immediate help for challenges

Students are interested in long-term AI support

Identifies gaps where AI support is insufficient

Abstract

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.