AI in teaching English is reshaping language learning. While interest in AI-supported education is growing worldwide, research in this area is still emerging in Iraq. This review synthesizes empirical AI-based intervention studies to enhance English language learning in Iraqi higher education, and the perceptions of stakeholders regarding AI tools in language instruction. The reviewed intervention studies, comprising studies employed different AI platforms to support grammar instruction, speaking fluency, writing feedback, and pragmatic competence. These interventions yielded improvements in learners’ performance, motivation, and communicative confidence. In parallel, perception-focused studies revealed positive attitudes toward AI's potential, and also highlighted persistent challenges, including insufficient infrastructure, limited digital training, and concerns over pedagogical alignment. The synthesis underscores both the promise and limitations of AI integration. It advocates for contextually grounded, methodologically rigorous research while emphasizing the need for investment in digital readiness and educators’ support to ensure equitable and sustainable AI adoption in language education.
