It’s no secret that artificial intelligence is already playing an increasingly important role in various domains, including translation and interpreting. This technological revolution not only transforms the way translations are done, but also changes the paradigms of professional training and development for translators and interpreters.
For us, this means only one thing: translation companies and professionals in this field must quickly adapt to keep up with these changes and maintain their relevance on the market.
AI technologies, such as automated translation systems and voice recognition, have fundamentally changed the way translators and interpreters are trained and develop their skills. Instead of relying solely on traditional training methods, professionals in the field now have a wide range of AI tools at their disposal that can facilitate their learning and improvement processes.
Rapid access to information and resources
Services such as ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini or Claude can provide translators with rapid access to essential information and resources for their work. For example, a professional can use AI to:
- quickly summarize complex texts,
- search for specific information,
- access linguistic databases,
- compare words and their more nuanced meanings,
- try various formulations of the same idea,
- document a specific field etc.
This immediate access to information allows translators to better understand the context and produce more accurate and coherent translations.
Personalized and adaptive learning
AI technologies can create personalized learning programs tailored to the specific needs of each translator. These programs can identify a translator’s weak points and offer exercises and resources to improve these areas. Additionally, AI can track progress in real time, providing continuous feedback and adjusting the difficulty level of exercises based on the user’s performance.
For these reasons, one of the most important applications of artificial intelligence is expected to be in education.
Practicing skills and professional abilities
AI can be used to practice the skills and professional abilities of translators. For example, translators can use AI platforms to simulate real-life translation or interpreting scenarios, allowing them to refine their skills in a controlled and risk-free environment. These simulations can include various scenarios, from complex technical translations to real-time interpreting.
For example, an automated transcription system can be used to assist the professional in taking the necessary notes, which can be particularly useful for consecutive interpreting.
Acquiring complementary skills
To adapt to new AI technologies, translators and interpreters need to expand their skill sets and acquire complementary abilities. This includes not only technical skills but also competencies in project management, communication, and collaboration.
Translators must become familiar with the various AI tools and platforms available on the market – they have to learn how to use computer-assisted translation (CAT) software, automated translation platforms, and other natural language processing technologies.
Also, in an increasingly digitized work environment, project management skills become essential. Translators need to be able to manage complex projects and communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.
And they have to do all this as quickly as necessary. And AI is fast.
So, to remain competitive, translators and interpreters must adopt new technologies and constantly develop their skills. By integrating AI into learning and professional development processes, they can benefit from rapid access to information, personalized learning programs, and opportunities to practice skills in an innovative and efficient way.
Thus, AI not only transforms the way translations are performed but also how professionals in this field build their careers in the future.