Artificial intelligence has been a significant buzzword for the past couple of years, as the process has inspired significant advancements in technology and automation. But how could AI revolutionize the industry of localization?
Advances in Machine Translation (MT) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) have led these platforms to be used by businesses of all sizes and types, including some that would previously have been considered “no-brainers” for human translation. It’s a brave new world out there, with countless possibilities for what AI can do.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is the ability of a program or machine to perform tasks usually requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.
The technology is used in many industries, from healthcare to finance and marketing. However, it’s most well-known for its use in AI-powered chatbots like Siri or Alexa that can answer questions and perform user tasks when needed.
The Effect of AI on Workflows
In the past, localization was a repetitive and manual process, and the only way to reach a high level of consistency was to manually check every single localization file for errors. This time-consuming and costly process led many companies to outsource their localization projects to third-party providers.
With the help of AI and machine learning, we can now automate this process and improve the quality of our translations without relying on human labor alone. AI has become so popular in the localization industry because it allows us to make faster decisions, what results in shorter turnaround times and greater efficiency when simultaneously translating content into multiple languages.
AI and Talent Sourcing
As for talent sourcing for localization jobs, AI can help identify candidates who are more likely to be successful in the role based on their relevant experience and skill set. This helps companies make better hiring decisions while reducing time spent on recruiting efforts.
AI Benefits to the Localization Industry:
Becoming more advanced and accessible to companies, it’s no surprise that AI has become a game changer in this sector.
Here are some ways AI can revolutionize localization:
- Improving translation quality by analyzing existing translations.
- Learning from past translations to produce better results.
- Speeding up the localization process.
- Reducing costs by automating repetitive tasks.
Traditional Localization Processes vs AI-powered Localization Processes
Traditional localization is a time-consuming and expensive process that requires human intervention at every stage, involving translation, editing, proofreading and formatting tasks. Accordingly, human translators and editors must be trained in language pairs and subject areas to perform these processes manually. In mega projects, the end product may lack consistency because different translators may use different terminology or phrasings for the same concept or term, what makes it difficult for target audiences to understand the content easily.
On the contrary, AI-powered localization processes can significantly reduce translation services’ costs as they can proceed 24/7 without any break or holiday. It also helps reduce human error rates by finding out whether specific phrases have been translated correctly or not.
Furthermore, AI-powered tools can deliver translations 30% faster than human because they use machine learning algorithms that help understand the context better and thus produce it more accurately. Not to say the least, MTPE combines the speed and convenience of machine translation with the talent and accuracy of human translators.
