Abstract
Current trends in globalization and educational digitalization require us to rethink how teachers help foreign language learners to acquire intercultural competence. The use of artificial intelligence technologies offers a promising way to create immersive, interactive, and adaptable learning environments. AI simulations help students develop cultural awareness, empathy, tolerance, and effective intercultural communication skills by mimicking real-world communication scenarios and allowing them to interact with virtual avatars. This study looks into how we can incorporate artificial intelligence into foreign language teaching to support cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of intercultural competence. It specifically examines the teaching potential of platforms that use game-based interactions, automatic feedback, and adaptive AI models. With this technology, students can improve self-reflection, metacognitive techniques, and their understanding of the cultural context of communication. Using AI simulations in the classroom provides additional opportunities for developing soft skills and integrative language abilities. These skills are essential for successful interculturaland professional communication in today’s globalized society. The study was conducted at Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University and involved second-year undergraduate students participating in an experimental training program. AI simulation platforms such as Alelo Enskill, Hyperspace, and Gen2Lingo wereused to create interactive intercultural communication scenarios. These platforms provided students with opportunities to engage in realistic conversations with virtual characters representing diverse cultural backgrounds, while receiving automated feedback on language use, pragmatic appropriateness, and cultural sensitivity. The findings indicate that the use of AI simulations significantly enhances students’ intercultural competence by improving their communication flexibility, empathy, cultural awareness, and confidence in intercultural interactions. In addition, the interactive and adaptive nature of AI technologies increases student motivation and engagement in the learning process. The results demonstrate that AI simulations represent an effective pedagogical tool for integrating language learning with intercultural development and preparing students for participation in academic and professional communication contexts.