This study employs a bibliometric approach and the VOSviewer software to conduct a visual analysis of research literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database published over the past decade, focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) applications in foreign language education in China. By examining publication trends, journal distributions, and keyword co-occurrence networks, this research identifies major research hotspots and evolutionary pathways in the field. The findings reveal that the number of domestic publications in this area has entered a phase of rapid growth since 2022. The research hotspots are categorized into five main clusters: the integration of AI with college English teaching, new applications of generative AI, the intelligent transformation of education, personalized teaching in second language acquisition, and technology ethics and ecological construction. The evolutionary trend demonstrates a three-stage progression from “technology application” to “integrated innovation” and finally to “value and ethical reflection.” Based on this analysis, the study anticipates that future developments will deepen along four dimensions: deeper technology integration, transformation of teacher roles, construction of academic integrity, and human-machine ethics governance, aiming to provide a reference for relevant research and practice.