There is certainly plenty of room for improvement in the application of AI in the interpreting field but I don’t think human interpreters will be replaced any time soon by machines, especially for top-level events such as gatherings of heads of state and government where the consequences of mistranslation could be very serious.
- Machine translation could lead to massive job losses for translators and take a toll on the $50-billion global translation industry, according to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cloud-based translation management platform. With respect to the above research, do you think translators and interpreters will have to come up with new strategies to make sure AI doesn’t replace them?
There is no doubt that the developments that are affecting the global translation industry are part of a wider transformation, in which AI is revolutionizing numerous sectors. It is certainly a little scary to see AI replacing so many jobs across so many industries. However, it is important to note that although AI may seem faster, more accurate, and more efficient, these are still programs that are designed and implemented by people. With that in mind, I do not completely agree that AI may eradicate the entire workforce.
However, I am sure that AI will have a significant impact on the translation industry. I see a growing volume of translation projects done through the aid of machines and artificial intelligence, combined with human expertise – at least when it comes to professional translations. As translation companies, we have to be aware of this transitional period.
Translators and linguists must adapt their approach and combine their language skills with mastery of translation technology as it continues to advance.
- What are the current trends in the industry and how is LangPros aiming to shape them?
The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented event that has brought the world to a standstill.
In such a sensitive working environment, communication errors could cost lives, so it’s fundamental that what is said is translated accurately.
Incorporating the use of VRI platforms during the first seconds of medical examination, for instance in the ER, when a victim of an accident first arrives at the hospital, can save lives. Within seconds, these services allow patients to clearly communicate their symptoms or needs to the doctors, saving crucial time when making an emergency diagnosis.
Although the main difference between RSI and VRI may seem to be the presence of a video stream that allows you to see the interpreter (in VRI); these two modalities of interpretation are used in different fields and situations.
RSI tends to be used during conferences, as an alternative that removes the need to fly in interpreters from abroad and set up heavy, soundproof booths and equipment. Meanwhile, VRI is mostly, but not exclusively, used in the healthcare and medical sector for doctor’s consultations and other situations in which the medical staff and patients cannot speak the same language.
