In the digital era, the explosive development of artificial intelligence has made possible the digital transformation of the course “Introduction to Linguistics” while triggering new challenges for the class instruction. Based on the content of the course, this paper explores the possibility of its digital transformation around three issues: dimensions, paradigms, and challenges. First, the course can be designed around three fundamental dimensions: ontology, usage, and interfaces of languages. Second, the course should not be limited to the traditional teaching paradigm, instead it may encompass comprehensive reforms beyond preclass preparation to post class review. Third, it is necessary to focus on and then address the challenges from the field of technology, identity, and ethics that arise during the transformation, while flexibly responding to opportunities by dynamically integrating various AI technologies, highlighting the instructor’s leading role to sharpen the students’ cutting edge of critical thinking.