Review of the Studies on the Impact of AI Tools on EFL Students Writing

This review explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools influence students' writing performance in learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Specifically, it focuses on three major categories of AI-based tools that support EFL learners in developing their writing competencies: automated writing evaluation (AWE) systems, automated corrective feedback (AWCF) tools, and generative AI writing tools. The applications of these AI tools have changed how students engage with writing tasks and positively impacted their writing performance. However, AI tools still have limitations and present challenges, including potential over-dependence, weakening of core writing skills, and ethical concerns like plagiarism. In addition to examining the impacts, this paper investigates the perceptions of both EFL students and educators toward using AI writing tools. This paper provides a balanced approach where EFL educators can collaborate with AI tools and boost students writing performance. Research continuously shows that when these AI tools are used in conjunction with human instruction rather than in place of it, student outcomes increase the most.