There are so many AI translation options available right now: AI translator devices, AI-powered translation services embedded in your favorite software, free public AI-powered translation platforms, AI translating earbuds, and more. Most businesses are wondering:

• Can these technologies handle translation and interpretation needs on their own?
• Can they ditch their traditional language service providers for the latest and best AI translator on the consumer market?
• Can they create their own LLM to harness AI for translation?
• Can they use a public LLM for AI translation services?

AI translation tools and software have notable value for consumers and personal usage. It also has value within the localization process. So why are companies and nonprofits failing to achieve their goals when implementing AI translation-powered projects on their own? Work with global translation solution providers to effectively harness this new technology, reach your business goals, and realize ROI. Four reasons businesses and organizations should work with language experts for responsible and effective AI translation are below.

Reason #1: Language Experts Provide Accountability and Risk Management

Using AI translation alone for business or organizational needs isn’t enough, as AI doesn’t take responsibility for the translation quality. You cannot ask AI for certification that a translation is accurate, and you have little recourse if an incorrect translation has dire consequences. As the user, you absorb the risk and consequences of using AI translation without human expertise. Sometimes these risks and consequences are substantial indeed.

Professionals at global translation solution companies take full accountability for their translation or interpretation work, including its:

• Accuracy
• Efficacy across cultures
• Brand consistency
• Compliance
• Cybersecurity
• Legality

If a translation has quality issues, skilled language experts will ensure they’re fixed. They also use rigorous quality assurance methods to prevent errors, including ISO certifications. For legal translations, a language services company will typically sign a certification, denoting that they hold liability for the accuracy of the translation.

A global translation provider may use AI-powered translations or equip its interpreters with AI tools to complete a project more efficiently. However, they will also apply any required reviews or processes to ensure their work meets the customer’s business goals. AI translation alone will never provide this risk management.

Reason #2: AI Translation Doesn’t Know Your Business/Org; Global Translation Providers Do

AI translation can help you bring your messages to new target audiences, but it doesn’t know your business the way global translation solution providers do. AI translation can only predict language. Without the guidance of human experts, it can’t learn the valuable knowledge of your business or organization, including:

• Products
• Regulatory requirements
• Brand voice
• Customer promises
• Company or industry terminology

Language solutions integrators like Lionbridge can use AI language translation tools to assist with your translation or interpretation projects. We train LLMs, curate input, and review output with all the above factors as criteria. The most crucial element of the process is that human experts bring a deep understanding of your overall company and its goals, and we use this company knowledge, our language expertise, and AI to help achieve those goals.

Reason #3: Translation Providers Optimize Your AI Translation Workflows

AI translation can help you get your message translated or interpreted faster, but it can’t optimize your workflows for efficiency, cost-cutting, and maintaining consistency and compliance. Lionbridge has decades of experience using the latest technology to help companies localize and translate their messages efficiently and cost-effectively. We apply our expertise and wisdom to decide things like:

• When AI translation is appropriate
• When and where you need a human expert
• When to translate or interpret content in your existing content creation workflows
• How to train yours or our own LLM to handle terminology
• Whether to use humans, AI, or a combination for quality assurance
• How to handle data security, governance, and risk
• How to measure content quality

The idea that AI alone can deliver optimal translation or interpretation workflows for every project is a myth. You need the expert guidance of a global translation provider on how to integrate AI to achieve the best workflow for your enterprise, whether you’re using AI services or not.