THE FUTURE OF TRANSLATION

THE FUTURE OF TRANSLATION

Coexisting with AI
With the rise of artificial intelligence, the translation industry is facing uncertain times, and unfortunately, this situation has raised alarms among many professionals in the sector.
Sadly, some freelance translators have already given up and sought opportunities in other fields, such as education or public administration.
However, at Easy Translations we believe that the emergence of artificial intelligence has brought new challenges for translation professionals.
CHALLENGES FACING THE TRANSLATION INDUSTRY
The main challenge in an environment where machine translation is gaining ground is to provide the best service and quality.
At the same time, it is essential to educate clients and explain that translation goes beyond just machine translation. Several factors must be considered to achieve high-quality results, such as handling urgent requests, meeting tight deadlines, and providing immediate responses to terminology inquiries.
Furthermore, in cases like these, maintaining fluid communication between the client and the translator is also a key factor for success and long-term loyalty.
In short, client retention is crucial to prevent them from turning exclusively to AI-based solutions.
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TRENDS AND EVOLUTION IN THE TRANSLATION INDUSTRY
Regarding the industry's evolution, we can expect a type of client to emerge who will request only post-editing of AI-generated translations, also known as Machine Translation Post-Editing (MTPE). What these clients don’t realize is that these tasks often take more time than a translation done by a professional native translator.
Translation of minor languages. Most professionals are proficient in a foreign language like English or French, and some may even feel comfortable using AI for texts in these languages. However, it is unthinkable for a company entering distant markets to risk publishing content in local or minority languages that most people are unfamiliar with.
Sworn translations. A sworn translation is an official translation certified by a translator accredited by a competent authority, attesting to the accuracy of the translated text compared to the original. The sworn translator must be officially appointed, such as by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The translation must include their signature and seal to be valid for official bodies and institutions. At present, AI has no place in this type of service.
Specialized translations. In fields like medicine, biology, or food safety, translations must be done by professionals, as any error could have serious consequences. These clients understand and appreciate the value of professional translation.
THE BALANCE BETWEEN AUTOMATION AND HUMAN QUALITY WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
Another crucial factor for differentiation is the pursuit of excellence. This is why achieving very high-quality standards is essential.
Despite AI’s impact, experts believe that the industry will find a balance and gradually stabilize. Machine translation has existed for years. While MT tools are becoming more precise, human oversight has always been necessary.
Let’s not forget that when photography appeared, people thought painting would disappear. When cinemas emerged, some believed theatre would cease to exist. The invention of television was expected to mark the end of radio and film. And the internet was supposed to be the death of TV. And yet… vinyl records are back!
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