AI and the Future of Translation and Interpretation - Part 1 of 2

Good afternoon! A warm welcome to everyone gathered in person at the Irvine Auditorium at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, as well as to the over 1,000 participants joining us online from around the world. I am Steve Snider, and I have the honor of serving as the interim vice president for academic affairs at the Institute this semester. Additionally, I am a faculty member in the Japanese Studies Department at Middlebury College. As an active literary translator for over 35 years, I'm excited to hear the insights shared by our amazing panel today.

Before diving in, I would like to extend our gratitude to all of our institutional partners, particularly the United Nations and the Chinese Translators Association, along with our school partners that helped us promote this event. As many of you know, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly impacting our field. While I don’t claim to predict the future of translation and interpretation (TNI), it will undoubtedly be both challenging and potentially exhilarating. Today, we’re privileged to have expert panelists to help us navigate this future. I'm particularly inspired by the contributions from our student, staff, and faculty community, and from the 12,200 alumni around the globe. So again, welcome!

Now, I'm thrilled to introduce our moderator for the afternoon, an esteemed alum, world-class interpreter, and long-serving faculty member at the Middlebury Institute, Laura Burian. Please give a warm welcome to Laura!

Thank you, Steve! It’s amusing to see this picture and realize it was taken a few years ago. My name is Laura Burian, dean of teaching, learning, and faculty development here at the Institute. I previously served as the dean of the Graduate School of Translation, Interpretation, and Language Education. As a Chinese-English translator and interpreter, I am honored to be moderating this event today. Before we begin, I’d like to acknowledge that we gather on unceded lands that are ancestral homes to Indigenous peoples. Let’s take a moment of silence to honor these communities and express gratitude for sharing this land.

Today’s event is not only live-streamed here but also on another platform in China, thanks to the Translators Association of China. I’m also grateful to all our student interpreters present today translating from English to Chinese for this live stream. You can utilize the interpretation icon to select a channel on Zoom.

Discussion Overview

Let’s jump into the purpose of today’s gathering: discussing AI's role in the future of translation and interpretation. The pressing question many ask is whether AI poses an existential threat or presents wonderful opportunities in our industry. To gauge the sentiment, we conducted a poll before the event, and 450 responses provided insight into how practitioners, educators, and students feel about this topic.

Poll Insights

• The average score on a scale from 1 to 10 regarding AI’s impact was 5.69, indicating a mix of positive and negative expectations.
• It’s important to note the wide distribution of responses, illustrating varied perspectives within the community.

When asked about the first word or phrase that comes to mind when thinking of AI, respondents shared terms such as: chat GPT, AI-generated content, deepfake, amazing, opportunity, challenge, and ethics. During our discussions, we'll explore these ideas further.

Panel Structure

This event consists of two panels, each about 45 minutes long, with a 15-minute Q&A at the end. I encourage everyone, both in-person and online, to submit questions throughout the panels. We’ll aim to address as many questions as possible in our final segment.

Panel 1: Current AI Impact on TNI

Let’s start with our first panel, where we will explore how AI is currently impacting translation and interpretation and what lies ahead. I’d like to invite our panelists to join us on stage.

Introducing Our Panelists

• Natalia Bondonno - Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service at the United Nations.
• Yang Yu - President of China Translation Corporation and Executive Director of the Translators Association of China.
• Winnie Heh - Career Advisor at the Middlebury Institute and a founding member of the Interpreting SAFE-AI Task Force.

Initial Impressions of AI

We will start with three quick questions for our panelists, asking them to share their keyword associated with AI and their impact rating on a scale of 1 to 10. Winnie, what comes to mind for you?

Winnie: The word that comes to mind for me is disruption, and I would rate it a 5. I believe everyone has the choice of where their number lands individually.

Yang: For me, it’s astonishing and challenging.

Natalia: My keyword is opportunity, and I would rate it a 9.

Concerns and Excitement About AI

Next, let’s discuss concerns and excitement regarding AI. Winnie, what are your thoughts?

Winnie: My main concern is the silos created between AI technology vendors and language professionals, which can lead to uninformed decisions. However, I’m excited about the potential for improving efficiency and access to information, particularly for underrepresented languages.

Yang: I see both challenges and opportunities. The rapid development of AI presents a chance for students and professionals to enhance our training and processes.

Natalia: Communication is a big challenge. While AI can automate many tasks, we must remember that we as language professionals bring essential judgment and insight to our work.

Real-Life Scenarios with AI

Let’s share stories of real-life scenarios relating to AI's impact in our field.

Winnie, could you share from your experience?

Winnie: I've noticed a significant uptick in contract positions as organizations navigate AI. Many are uncertain about AI's impact, leading to hesitance in committing to full-time hires.

Yang: Our company has been using AI for simultaneous interpretation at conferences, combining human expertise with machine capabilities.

Natalia: We are evaluating how to integrate generative AI into our workflows, focusing on maintaining quality and ensuring our role as professionals remains vital.

Quality Control Measures

Natalia, can you shed light on the quality control measures at the UN?

Natalia: Quality control has evolved into a more formal and quantified process, relying on professional language experts for the final output, regardless of the technology used.

Advice for Future Professionals

As we adapt to these changes, what advice would you offer aspiring translators and interpreters?

Winnie: Get comfortable with ambiguity, engage with AI tech developers, and remain open-minded regarding changing job titles and definitions.

Yang: See AI as a partner, and always seek opportunities for upskilling.

Natalia: Embrace tools, develop judgment on their use, and focus on enhancing your target language skills to leverage the value you bring.

Thank you to all our panelists for an excellent session. Your insights into AI's impact on translation and interpretation provide much food for thought!