The rise of artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the translation industry.
What can AI can and cannot do right now? And what role will language professionals play in the future?
We asked these questions to 3 experts in the field:
Let’s have a look at their answers!
What can AI can and cannot do right now? And what role will language professionals play in the future?
We asked these questions to 3 experts in the field:
- Alfonso González Bartolessis, Localization Manager at Sinch, TranslaStars’ CEO and director of the Master in AI and Innovation for Localization
- Ekaterina Chashnikova, medical translator and AI and GenAI Specialist
- Nicola Calabrese, founder of boutique translation agency Undertow and cofounder and instructor of the Localization Management Academy
Let’s have a look at their answers!
4 ways AI is impacting the translation industry
1. Translation speed and efficiency
According to Alfonso, "AI enhances the speed and efficiency of translation processes. Systems like DeepL translate large amounts of text immediately and deliver high quality content (but it still needs to be human post-edited)".
This highlights AI's ability to expedite translation workflows both for freelance language professionals and language services providers.
This highlights AI's ability to expedite translation workflows both for freelance language professionals and language services providers.
2. Improved translation quality
The ability of AI to understand the nuances of language is a significant development in the translation industry.
As Alfonso observes: "AI systems are now able to understand context, idiomatic expressions, and nuanced meanings better and, as a result, we are obtaining more accurate translations".
This enhanced understanding allows AI to move beyond simple word-for-word substitutions and capture the true intent and meaning behind the source text.
Ekaterina further expands on this point. She notes that "Large Language Models (LLMs) are capable of much more than classic Machine Translation (MT): they can handle transcreation tasks, tailor translation to the specific style and tone of voice, and perform QA across documents in different formats”.
PRO TIP: As a language professional, if you want to stop toying with AI and save time on routine tasks, you need to improve your prompts.
Learn how to get the most of AI and engineer prompts for different translation and localization scenarios with the course AI Prompt Engineering by translation expert Ekaterina Chashnikova.
As Alfonso observes: "AI systems are now able to understand context, idiomatic expressions, and nuanced meanings better and, as a result, we are obtaining more accurate translations".
This enhanced understanding allows AI to move beyond simple word-for-word substitutions and capture the true intent and meaning behind the source text.
Ekaterina further expands on this point. She notes that "Large Language Models (LLMs) are capable of much more than classic Machine Translation (MT): they can handle transcreation tasks, tailor translation to the specific style and tone of voice, and perform QA across documents in different formats”.
PRO TIP: As a language professional, if you want to stop toying with AI and save time on routine tasks, you need to improve your prompts.
Learn how to get the most of AI and engineer prompts for different translation and localization scenarios with the course AI Prompt Engineering by translation expert Ekaterina Chashnikova.
3. Cost reduction
Alfonso highlights the economic benefits of AI, stating that "AI translation solutions offer savings that make translation services more accessible and the possibility to create multilingual content almost universal."
In fact, as the cost of translation decreases, the potential for creating multilingual content becomes more attainable. This can lead to a more diverse and inclusive online experience, with information readily available in a wider variety of languages.
Moreover, for companies operating internationally, AI translation can be a game-changer. Lower translation costs allow them to expand their reach into new markets, develop multilingual marketing materials, and provide better customer support in local languages.
In fact, as the cost of translation decreases, the potential for creating multilingual content becomes more attainable. This can lead to a more diverse and inclusive online experience, with information readily available in a wider variety of languages.
Moreover, for companies operating internationally, AI translation can be a game-changer. Lower translation costs allow them to expand their reach into new markets, develop multilingual marketing materials, and provide better customer support in local languages.
4. From translators to post-editors
“The localization industry has been ahead of others, using neural machine translation for some time. Now, with generative AI becoming mainstream, post-editing will become even more widespread, along with new applications like terminology extraction, QA, and workflow orchestration”, says Nicola Calabrese.
As Nicola points out, the rise of AI in the translation industry is likely to have a significant impact on the skill set required by human translators. While some may fear complete job displacement, a more likely scenario is a shift in focus. We might see a trend where translators increasingly dedicate themselves to post-editing machine translations, rather than traditional, ground-up translation work.
For some translators, it may represent a decrease in creative freedom. The process of crafting a translation from scratch allows for a deeper engagement with the source text and the target language. Post-editing, on the other hand, may feel more like revising someone else's work.
However, there are also potential upsides. Post-editing AI translations can be significantly faster than traditional translation processes. This could allow translators to handle larger volumes of work and potentially reach new clients.
Additionally, the rise of AI could lead to a surge in demand for human expertise in specialized areas. As machine translation struggles with complex language nuances, legal and literary translation, for example, may become even more sought-after niches for human translators.
PRO TIP: Whether you are a freelancer or an in-house linguist, there are many tools that can help you increase your profits or optimize your work processes for the benefit of your career and your customers.
With the Certificate in AI for Translators & Interpreters, you will learn how to use AI-tools for:
- transcription / subtitling,
- tailored translation,
- multilingual copywriting and content creation,
- video creation,
- voice generation,
- term extraction,
- transcreation.
5. Industry-wide adoption
Lastly, Alfonso emphasizes the need for adoption across the industry, underlying that “translation software providers need to adopt and implement AI in their tools because the market is demanding them to do so. But it is not only them who need to adapt, language service providers, project managers, translators and everybody in this industry need to adapt to this new way of working if they want to thrive”.
This quote highlights a crucial point: AI adoption in translation goes far beyond simply incorporating new technology. It necessitates a fundamental transformation across the entire industry.
For instance, project managers will need to adapt their workflows to integrate AI tools effectively. This could involve tasks like selecting the appropriate AI engine for each project, managing revisions between AI and human translators, and ensuring quality control throughout the translation process.
Language service providers will also need to invest in reskilling and upskilling their workforce to embrace AI. This might involve training project managers and translators on using AI tools, developing new service offerings that leverage AI capabilities, and adapting their business models to accommodate the changing translation landscape.
Lastly, translation software providers will be under increasing pressure to develop innovative AI solutions that cater to the specific needs of the translation industry. This could involve advancements in areas like domain-specific language models and seamless integration with existing translation workflows.
This quote highlights a crucial point: AI adoption in translation goes far beyond simply incorporating new technology. It necessitates a fundamental transformation across the entire industry.
For instance, project managers will need to adapt their workflows to integrate AI tools effectively. This could involve tasks like selecting the appropriate AI engine for each project, managing revisions between AI and human translators, and ensuring quality control throughout the translation process.
Language service providers will also need to invest in reskilling and upskilling their workforce to embrace AI. This might involve training project managers and translators on using AI tools, developing new service offerings that leverage AI capabilities, and adapting their business models to accommodate the changing translation landscape.
Lastly, translation software providers will be under increasing pressure to develop innovative AI solutions that cater to the specific needs of the translation industry. This could involve advancements in areas like domain-specific language models and seamless integration with existing translation workflows.
What AI can’t do (for now)
While AI is revolutionizing translation processes, human expertise remains crucial. Here's what AI can't do (today):
1. Understanding cultural differences
Although AI now can understand idiomatic expressions and other nuanced meanings, it still can't compete with humans when it comes to understanding the intricacies of different cultures.
For example, AI might miss cultural references or jokes embedded within the text, leading to a translated product that is grammatically correct but misses the intended humor or meaning entirely.
This cultural understanding goes beyond just language. A human translator can recognize the impact of historical events, social norms, and even political climates on how a message is received.
As Nicola states, “beyond reviewing AI outputs, language professionals will be crucial in adapting nuanced, culturally relevant content and curating language assets such as translation memories, term bases, and style guides to train models and refine prompts. They will also provide essential cultural insights to make content resonate with local audiences and improve the UX for target markets, ensuring relevance and high-quality localization”.
For example, AI might miss cultural references or jokes embedded within the text, leading to a translated product that is grammatically correct but misses the intended humor or meaning entirely.
This cultural understanding goes beyond just language. A human translator can recognize the impact of historical events, social norms, and even political climates on how a message is received.
As Nicola states, “beyond reviewing AI outputs, language professionals will be crucial in adapting nuanced, culturally relevant content and curating language assets such as translation memories, term bases, and style guides to train models and refine prompts. They will also provide essential cultural insights to make content resonate with local audiences and improve the UX for target markets, ensuring relevance and high-quality localization”.
2. Producing error-free translations
While both humans and AI can make mistakes in translation, the nature and impact of those errors differ significantly.
Human translators, despite their expertise, are susceptible to fatigue, blind spots, and occasional misinterpretations. AI, on the other hand, can be plagued by errors stemming from data limitations, misunderstandings of context, and the inherent challenges of replicating human nuance.
However, when it comes to sensitive areas, the human edge in trust and reliability remains undeniable.
For instance, in the realm of medical translation, where accuracy can literally mean the difference between life and death, accountability is paramount. Human translators can be held responsible for their work, allowing for clear lines of communication and revision if necessary. With AI, the process can be more opaque, making it difficult to pinpoint the source of an error or ensure complete transparency.
Moreover, legal and medical fields have their own unique vocabulary and terminology. Human translators with specialized knowledge in these domains can ensure a level of accuracy and consistency that AI might struggle to achieve. They can understand the specific nuances of legal precedents or medical terminology, leading to more reliable translations.
This isn't to say AI has no role in sensitive translations. Machine translation can be a valuable tool for initial drafts or for identifying potential problem areas. However, the final, critical step of ensuring accuracy and cultural appropriateness will likely remain firmly in the hands of human translators for the foreseeable future.
“I believe that humans will stay in the loop in all areas that require high quality and where errors can cause real harm to businesses and/or humans. However, it's crucial for linguists to keep track of the developments and familiarize themselves with the technology to be ready to use when the time comes (for most of us, there is no "if" about it)”, says Ekaterina.
Human translators, despite their expertise, are susceptible to fatigue, blind spots, and occasional misinterpretations. AI, on the other hand, can be plagued by errors stemming from data limitations, misunderstandings of context, and the inherent challenges of replicating human nuance.
However, when it comes to sensitive areas, the human edge in trust and reliability remains undeniable.
For instance, in the realm of medical translation, where accuracy can literally mean the difference between life and death, accountability is paramount. Human translators can be held responsible for their work, allowing for clear lines of communication and revision if necessary. With AI, the process can be more opaque, making it difficult to pinpoint the source of an error or ensure complete transparency.
Moreover, legal and medical fields have their own unique vocabulary and terminology. Human translators with specialized knowledge in these domains can ensure a level of accuracy and consistency that AI might struggle to achieve. They can understand the specific nuances of legal precedents or medical terminology, leading to more reliable translations.
This isn't to say AI has no role in sensitive translations. Machine translation can be a valuable tool for initial drafts or for identifying potential problem areas. However, the final, critical step of ensuring accuracy and cultural appropriateness will likely remain firmly in the hands of human translators for the foreseeable future.
“I believe that humans will stay in the loop in all areas that require high quality and where errors can cause real harm to businesses and/or humans. However, it's crucial for linguists to keep track of the developments and familiarize themselves with the technology to be ready to use when the time comes (for most of us, there is no "if" about it)”, says Ekaterina.
The future of translation is collaborative
As AI technology continues to evolve, the future of translation likely lies in a collaborative approach, where AI complements and empowers human translators to deliver high-quality, culturally relevant communication across languages.
PRO TIP: Over 90% of leading companies are embracing AI, with nearly half citing a staggering 47% productivity boost. Are you ready to stay ahead?
TranslaStars’ Master’s Program in AI and Innovation for Localization equips language professionals with cutting-edge AI tools and techniques to enhance their localization, translation, and content creation skills through live online sessions, practical workshops, and collaborative projects.
Enroll today!
PRO TIP: Over 90% of leading companies are embracing AI, with nearly half citing a staggering 47% productivity boost. Are you ready to stay ahead?
TranslaStars’ Master’s Program in AI and Innovation for Localization equips language professionals with cutting-edge AI tools and techniques to enhance their localization, translation, and content creation skills through live online sessions, practical workshops, and collaborative projects.
Enroll today!
Created with
