How does AI apply to the language industry? AI has always been a constant question mark in the back of our minds especially regarding automatic translations. Now that AI can do so much, is it time for translators to become worried?

Today, translators use machine translation programs such as Trados or MemoQ to give them a baseline to work from, so called post-editing machine translation (PEMT). PEMT can greatly improve translation times especially for longer translations. For translators, it has been recognized as a valid strategy and working method. However as we all know, the translations that machine translation programs produce aren’t perfect. They are often more than not flawed. But what happens if you begin using AI such as Chat GPT which is designed to produce fluent and natural sounding language? Would a translator have a more powerful tool? Or would you have a competitor?

Translators will find that the answer is the same as it always has, ever since machine translation was introduced into the world. A machine will most certainly not remove the need for a translator. Language is always so fluid, full of nuance and possibilities that it’s almost impossible for a machine to pick up on every last detail. On the flip side though, translators may find a new ally with AI as it can cut their work time, allowing them to work on more projects. For example, translators can enter questions into Chat GPT, maybe have it check for fluency or suggest different ways of phrasing things, or even come up with new ideas.

If you’re an interpreter, you probably have even less to worry about. Though AIs such as Google Assistant are popular for quick and easy phrases, it still runs into the same problems as it is pulling from Google Translate. Interpretation especially is a field where accuracy and nuance is important and a lot of that is easily lost with AI translations.

Overall, in the language field, whether the advancement of AI would replace the role of human translators and interpreters is nothing to be concerned about, at least not in our life time. If anything, we should be excited about it. As the technology advances, translators and interpreters may find a powerful ally that will help them advance their work efficiently.

Let us start with what can be done from the language buyer side to improve relations. First, a language buyer should try to come up with their own requirements so that they can choose an LSP that meets their needs. Additionally, language buyers should make sure that the supplier is the right fit for the company. If they trust their supplier enough, it is possible to make the LSP a business partner and give them more privileges into the company so that they can more frequently be on the same page and know exactly what is going on.

Building a relationship with the LSP will also possibly help to foster more trust and comfort between both parties. The language buyer can also be more transparent with what they will be using services for to foster trust and understanding. After all, having a strong relationship and partnership is essential for a smooth, long-lasting business relationship.

The LSP can try to pass on as much knowledge as necessary over to the client while trying to understand their needs. However, the LSP should be careful not to overwhelm the language buyer with knowledge.  After all, the language buyer trusts that localization is the LSP’s specialty. The LSP should only try to give them relevant information that will benefit both sides. The LSP should always have the language buyer’s best interest in mind, whether it is to deliver the project timely, to convey clear meaning in translation, or to level the translation to increase the language buyer’s best image.

Overall, it is important to know that creating a strong relationship can be difficult, but it is important to show that you are committed to trying to meet all reasonable needs of each other in order to make a smoother process. There are many ways that this can be achieved, but it is important to think about what steps can be taken to move the relationship in the right direction. In the end, if you can get a strong enough relationship, then it can be possible to be comfortable being completely transparent with each other. In essence, this means that you share all the necessary information and every last detail without trying to sugar coat it. If there is some kind of issues, with a good enough relationship, there will be a high level of trust where there will be mutual cooperation to fix any problems and work on improvement plans to ensure that the same kinds of mistakes are avoided in the future.