Absolute Translations Warns Businesses of the Risks of Replacing Certified Translation Services With AI
The limitations of automated translation means it is potentially damaging for commercial organisations, warns top certified translations company
With AI translation and content creation tools becoming more widely used, Absolute Translations, a dual-ISO accredited certified translation firm, advises users, particularly businesses, to exercise caution when assessing the suitability of AI for translation projects.
Automated translation is one of several capabilities of text-based AI tools. Still, the limitations mean it is inappropriate and potentially damaging when used as a standalone solution for commercial organisations and in place of certified translation services.
Increasing Use of AI and Automated Translations
The latest statistics show that the global machine translation market has grown rapidly, from $400 million in 2016 to a $1,500 million projected market value next year. AI tools and platforms have shot to prominence and have been the topic of significant controversy, where educational establishments and search engines have implemented controls to identify the use of AI and penalise users.
However, there are benefits to AI translation in a globally connected world. Users can rely on approximate translations to correspond with contacts, follow signs and instructions when travelling, or help inform their understanding of information in a different language.
Automated translations continue to have limitations in fields such as medicine, business, insurance, financial services, immigration and marketing, where translations must be 100% precise and incorporate knowledge of cultural differences, abbreviations and colloquialisms that can distort the meaning or messaging of translated content.
Today, approximately 100 million people have a content generating AI subscriptions, but there is no indication that AI translation will replace professional translators, particularly in technical and certified applications.
Complications With Reliance on AI for Professional Translation Projects
Certified translations are accompanied by a signature, verification stamp or statement confirming a translation has been completed to a high level of accuracy, reliant on the translator's skill, accreditations and professional competence.
In the UK, official documents must be certified to be considered valid, including translations in legal processes, visa applications and formal qualification transcriptions. For example, the Home Office will automatically reject submissions where ID documents have been translated into English without a certification stamp.
Requirements vary but normally include:
- A statement or document stating that the translation is ‘true and accurate’.
- The date the translation was completed.
- Contact details of the translator or company and a named contact.
AI translations cannot provide this degree of confirmation or offer the name of a qualified translator who can testify to the precision and exactness with which the translation has been carried out. Many private individuals and commercial entities assuming an automated translation will be sufficient may experience severe delays or be unable to resubmit applications with appropriately certified translations.
Instances such as submitting insurance or contract-related claims without a certified translation pertaining to the valuation of assets or the legality of a contractual clause can also cause ongoing reputational or financial damage.
Predicted Long-Term Demand for Certified Translation Services
Although AI translation tools offer a fast and low-cost way to manage ad hoc translations, the professional industry remains robust and in high demand. The translation industry workforce doubled between 2013 and 2020, and the market is anticipated to reach $73.6 billion within the next two years.
It is important to distinguish between automated translations for casual and informal use and certified translations required in professional, contractual and formal contexts.
Sergio Afonso, CEO of Absolute Translations says, "We feel it is essential to raise awareness about the difference between AI-based translations and authentic, detailed translations completed by skilled first-language speakers, especially for clients who need verified translations for private or business purposes.
The use of AI has made translation more accessible, but all too often, we work with customers who have been impacted by the inaccuracy of automated translation, which in some cases, can be disastrous. Even where a certified translation is not mandatory, an inexact translation completed through an AI program can lead to invalid contracts or insurance coverage, legal challenges and commercial failures.
Any business requiring exceptional quality translations or clients looking for a certified translation to meet regulatory standards is strongly advised to work with an accredited translator and only to use AI translation for informal applications where errors or mistakes are acceptable.”
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About Absolute Translations
Absolute Translations understands the importance of quality and reliability and this comes at the forefront of our translation services. Our many years of experience have made it possible for us to work with some of the most talented professional translators as well as leading global brands around the world in more than 200 languages, with business translation services from our London, UK and European offices.
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