Impact of artificial intelligence on the EF English Proficiency Index in East Asian countries

This study examines the impact of artificial intelligence on the EF English Proficiency Index in Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan during 2011 - 2024. Panel data comprising 56 observations were analyzed using pooled ordinary least squares, fixed-effects, random-effects, and two-way fixed-effects models. The results show that a 0.1-point increase in the AI index is associated with a 0.55-point increase in EF EPI, while a one-percentage-point increase in Internet penetration raises the index by approximately 0.116 points. GDP per capita also has a positive effect on English proficiency. The study recommends promoting smart education, improving digital infrastructure, expanding equitable access to AI-supported learning, and aligning education and international economic policies with sustainable language-capability development.