Artificial Intelligence and Translation: The Future of Human Translators

The translation industry has begun to change with the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Human translators are no longer preferred in translations as they used to be. Instead, the person who wants the translation done uses artificial intelligence tools. For example, platforms such as Google Translate, DeepL, and OpenAI provide translation services. So, can AI translators replace human translators in the future?

It is certain that AI translations have advantages over human translators. For example, they are preferred in terms of speed and access. AI can translate into many languages ​​within seconds. This provides a great advantage, especially in the business world and in emergency situations. They are more cost-effective than human translators. Automated translation services are generally cheaper, and faster than human translators. In addition, with developing technology, systems that can provide more accurate, context-sensitive, and fluent translations are being developed. For example, it has been observed that systems such as DeepL produce better quality results even in literary texts.

On the other hand, AI translators are not without their disadvantages. AI is inadequate compared to human translators, especially in translating cultural nuances. Human translators who know and research cultural differences can make the translation of higher quality. Besides, AI is lacking in emotional intonation. For example, in content such as poetry, literary texts, or emotional writings, AI cannot compete with human creativity and empathy. It is important to understand the poet's tone when translating a poem; if it is not understood, the translation will be incomplete. In these cases, human translators produce better work. Additionally, AI generally has a higher margin of error. AI may make mistakes in technical terms or words with multiple meanings. For example, context errors may occur when the word “Apple” means both fruit and brand.

Human translators also have many advantages over AI. Human translators can understand the subtext, emotional tone, and intent of the text. Especially in literary translations, human translators produce more successful work. Since they have cultural adaptations, they can make adaptations according to local idioms, cultural references, and the purpose of the writing. Since creativity and empathy are at the forefront of human translators, the role of human translators becomes indispensable, especially in creative works such as literary translation or marketing content. For example, human translators can translate Shakespeare's works better and with higher quality than AI. Since it is a poetry translation, it is very important to preserve both the poetic structure and the cultural context, and the best human translators can do this.

Instead of choosing sides, a hybrid study can be considered. AI can speed up the work of human translators. For example, the AI ​​creates the first draft, while the human translator edits and contextualizes it. This method both reduces costs and increases quality. In this way, translators can gain a stronger place in the industry by learning to use AI tools.

So, what might the role of human translators be in the future? There will always be a need for human translators in areas that require expertise and in sensitive areas such as legal, medical, academic, and literary translation. In addition, human translators will be needed to check the accuracy and context of the translations made by AI.

In conclusion, although AI has advanced in the field of translation and will only get better with advancing technology, human translators are still critically important due to features such as context, creativity, and cultural transmission. From the future, the world of translation will become more efficient with AI and human collaboration. Moreover, no matter how much technology develops, it cannot replace human emotion and creativity.