Integrating ChatGPT into PBL requires seeing it as a scaffold across the project cycle. During the Launch, it can generate provocative driving questions; in the Inquiry phase, it acts as a research assistant and text simplifier; in Development, it serves as a writing coach and dialogue simulator; during Critique, it provides comparative texts for analysis; and for Presentation, it can simulate audience Q&A. This functional mapping ensures its use is strategic and phase-appropriate. Designing effective project-based learning activities with ChatGPT requires moving beyond simply incorporating a new tool into existing practices. Instead, it demands a thoughtful reconsideration of pedagogical design principles that align technological capabilities with language learning objectives. The integration of generative AI into PBL is not merely a technical addition but a pedagogical reorientation that requires clear guiding principles to ensure technology serves educational goals rather than distorting them. Research examining early implementations reveals that successful integration consistently adheres to several core principles that balance innovation with pedagogical integrity (Lee et al., 2021; Ng et al., 2024).