Artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly transformed language translation, especially over the past five years. The main aim of this research was to explore the role AI has played in enhancing language translation technologies and its societal implications to provide an understanding of its current state, usage and future prospects. A systematic review was performed using the PRISMA protocol and the Scopus database, resulting in the identification of 351 publications. After applying strict exclusion and inclusion criteria, 52 articles were closely examined, and 16 were included in the final review. The findings demonstrate that AI, mainly through the adoption of neural machine translation (NMT) and transformer-based models, has greatly improved the accuracy and efficiency of translations. These advancements have led to innovations in fields such as education, healthcare and business that facilitate communication in different languages. However, the review also identified important societal implications, including ethical concerns, possible job displacement and the risk of cultural homogenisation. The study identified the need for future AI language translation technologies to focus on culturally sensitive models, universal language frameworks and ethical AI systems that prioritise transparency and fairness. This research provides valuable information for researchers, industry professionals and policymakers on how to harness AI to maximise social benefits while addressing the challenges associated with language translation.