Reimagining ESP classrooms: mapping AI-enhanced creative learning spaces

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping English for Specific Purposes (ESP) instruction in higher education, offering new opportunities to foster creativity, autonomy, and professional language skills. Traditional ESP classrooms often face limitations due to rigid curricula, static assessments, and minimal personalization. This study aims to explore how AI tools are transforming ESP classrooms into creative and adaptive learning environments. Although various AI applications have been introduced, including ChatGPT, adaptive platforms, and generative AI, there remains a lack of comprehensive synthesis on how these tools support creative spaces in ESP contexts. Addressing this gap, the study employed a systematic empirical mapping method to analyze 20 peer-reviewed Scopus-indexed articles published between 2020 and 2024. The analysis revealed several key themes: AI-facilitated formative assessment, immersive virtual learning spaces, ethical considerations, and improved learner motivation and reflection. Findings show that AI technologies can support personalized, feedback-rich, and creativity-driven instruction, aligning ESP learning with 21st-century educational demands. The study contributes to the growing field of AI-enhanced pedagogy by providing practical and theoretical insights for designing inclusive, learner-centered ESP curricula. It also calls for further empirical research into co-designed and ethically guided AI applications in language education.