AI-Mediated Cross-Cultural Communication Among the Vietnamese Generation Z: Navigating Digital Dialogue in a Globalized Era

Nguyễn Thi Truong Giang

Abstract


This qualitative study investigates how the Vietnamese Generation Z individuals perceive and experience artificial intelligence tools as mediators in cross-cultural communication. Adopting an interpretive phenomenological framework, the research draws on data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 25 Vietnamese participants aged 18-27 who reside in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis to explore the complex interplay between AI-assisted translation technologies and authentic intercultural exchange. Findings reveal a fundamental tension: while AI tools dramatically lower barriers to initiating cross-cultural contact, participants consistently reported experiencing connection without understanding, technically successful exchanges that nonetheless felt emotionally hollow. Three interconnected themes emerged: paradoxical isolation despite increased connectivity, in which technical efficiency masks relational distance; cultural flattening through algorithmic mediation, which erodes distinct cultural nuances; and persistent authenticity concerns about the ownership of communication. The study contributes to communication theory by extending Communication Accommodation Theory to AI-mediated contexts, proposing that algorithmic translation creates a new form of technological convergence, distinct from traditional interpersonal accommodation. Practical implications suggest that educators and technology designers must look beyond linguistic accuracy to address the human dimensions of interaction, recommending that effective digital communication requires complementing AI tools with intentional cultural learning strategies to preserve authentic human connection.

 

Keywords: Artificial intelligence, cross-cultural communication, Generation Z, Vietnam, digital mediation.

 

https://doi.org/10.17576/JKMJC-2026-4202-14


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References


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