The use of AI in translation is growing steadily. As more companies aim for global expansion, experts project the language translation NLP market will be worth $6.93 billion in 2024 and $27.46 billion by 2030.
Most consumers (76%) prefer to buy products with information available in their local language. So, to reach global markets more easily, companies use fast and accurate AI-powered translation tools. Netflix is a success story in this sector. They used automated translation and dubbing to establish communication and trust and showcase professionalism on the global scene.
Learn more about the intersection of AI and translation and how your company can benefit from working with proven experts who provide AI-powered translation solutions.
AI’s role in revolutionizing translation
Accurate translations are the backbone of international business. In some fields, precision and nuance are key. In others, like retail, processing large volumes of content daily is more important. For a long time, companies and individuals had to rely on manual translation. But, with large-scale projects involving multiple languages, human translation comes with problems.
Common challenges of human translation
Here are some challenges of the manual translation process:
Time. Professional translators can translate about 2,000 words per day. It can vary based on content type, file formats, and style guides. Alternatively, AI can process vast amounts of data, providing real-time translation, even in multiple languages.
Translation costs. High-quality language translation services range up to $0.60 per word. When dealing with volumes of content, the cost can quickly add up. In contrast, machine translation and generative AI translation cost $0.10 per word or less.
Expert availability. Large projects can demand a lot of translator hours. Depending on the language pairs, you may have difficulty finding available experts. On the other hand, artificial intelligence translations are always available.
Translation consistency. Human translators often have different writing styles, which can produce variations in translation. Consistency can be an issue when the same person produces inconsistent translations across time. It can be due to fatigue, stress, or many other factors.
Errors and misinterpretation. Humans make mistakes, and that’s hardly ever going to change. Human translators are vital in the translation process, especially in dealing with idiomatic expressions and nuances. But, their expertise, focus, and contextual understanding can vary, leading to inaccurate translations and misinterpretation.
Team management. Large projects demand engaging a team of experts for each language pair. Then, experienced managers in the translation services industry must find a common language and get everyone on the same page. The team must always be in sync and follow the same translation rules. With remote teams, this can be more challenging to set up.
Improving translation performance with machine learning and AI
Advanced AI translation tools use neural machine translation (NMT) to:
Instantly translate vast amounts of text;
Translate texts between multiple languages at once;
Produce consistent outputs;
Continually improve translation quality;
Ensure more efficient post-editing by human translators.
But it didn’t start like that. When Google Translate launched in 2006, it made machine translation available to everyone at no cost. The initial model used rule-based statistical methodology. In other words, it was using a set of existing translations to translate specific words within sentences. While users could find many faults with this system, it was still valuable and a time saver for professionals in the translation services sector.
Ten years later, in 2016, Google Translate started using AI to improve accuracy and fluency. Google Neural Machine Translation (GNMT) relies on an artificial neural network. And most AI-powered translation tools rely on neural networks and deep learning to improve translation accuracy.
But how did we get to this level? Let’s discuss the underlying technologies that enhanced automated translation over time.
Translation technologies and tools
There are leading underlying technologies that make automated translation possible. The early Machine Translation (MT) models were rule-based and dictionary-based systems. Then, we had Statistical Machine Translation (SMT) models. These used large volumes of bilingual text data and statistical methods to produce more accurate translations.
Then, machine translation models were integrated with Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools. Some of the key features of CAT tools include terminology management, retrieving and cross-referencing translations, context analysis, and multilingual translation. Similar to these, we have other cloud-based Translation Management Systems (TMS) looking to enhance their platforms with AI-powered translation.
Regarding AI and translation, we can differentiate large language models (LLMs) paired with generative AI and neural machine translation (NMT) models. Both can translate languages. However, they offer different functionality. For higher accuracy and cost-effectiveness, NMT models are the right choice. For broader applications and better fluency, LLMs take the lead.
What’s behind these advanced models? It’s neural networks that mimic the structure of the human brain and deep learning techniques that learn translation rules from large parallel datasets. Encoder-decoder structures are part of transformer models that restore original meaning in the target language. If this sounds like too much, we get it. You don’t need to get into all of this. Let us build and customize translation tools to support your business needs.
Benefits of AI in Translation
There are numerous benefits to using AI for translation. That’s why many companies are integrating AI-based translation technology into their systems. For international companies, this is a burning topic. Those who first adapt their content to local audiences have the best chance to dominate the market. Here’s how AI translation technology can help you do that.
Speed
What used to take hours or days to translate can be done in seconds by NMT tools. These translation tools use algorithms to capture and translate the meaning of entire sentences and paragraphs. To further automate time-consuming translation processes, it uses translation memory to recall and reuse previously translated units of text.
Here’s an overview of how AI-powered tools speed up translation:
Handle large volumes of text;
Translate into multiple languages simultaneously;
Integrate into workflows;
Enable real-time communication;
Offer post-editing suggestions.
Scalability
With AI-based translation technology, you can easily scale up or down. Companies looking to expand into new international markets must translate many materials into various formats. Here, AI translation models can fuel business growth.
They can process thousands of web pages, manuals, documents, listings, or transcripts simultaneously. You can translate your entire website into multiple languages with just a few clicks. And unlike humans, these tools won’t get tired or burned out. If anything, artificial intelligence translation technology improves the more you use it.
So, embrace the future of translation services, break down language barriers, and lead your business onto the global stage.
Cost-efficiency
Increasing your global market share is one way to help your corporate budget. The other way is to be cost-efficient. And pairing AI and language translation can help you cut costs and increase ROI. Here’s how:
You don’t have to seek out language experts for translation.
Labor costs will be lower.
Faster translations ensure quick turnarounds.
Quick turnarounds mean higher productivity.
Higher productivity and accuracy mean more market access.
The preceding was an overview of the cost savings from using AI for translation. Other factors to consider are the ability to scale up or down, translation accuracy, and the ability to customize solutions for your business or industry.
More from our blog
Benefits of using LLM for customer service
Get much more in customer service with LLMs. Enjoy 24/7 support, personalized experiences, and cost savings.
Read moreIndustry applications of AI translation technology
Applying translation technology is different across industries. For e-commerce and retail, AI translation can be more effective. For Fintech and legal translations, neural machine translation can offer better results and higher data security. Combining the proper translation features for your industry and business needs can ensure sustained success.
Let’s look at what AI translation and localization services can do in different sectors:
Industry sector | Outputs | Benefits |
Fintech | Quick regulatory document translation. | Quick market entry, legal compliance, and accuracy in complex terminology. |
Edtech | E-learning content localization (course content: text, quizzes, videos, etc.); real-time updates. | Instant translation into multiple languages, improved comprehension, and learning experience. |
E-commerce | Instant product description translation. | Global accessibility, quick inventory updates, branding consistency. |
These are just a few examples of artificial intelligence translation in action. We can grasp the potential business impacts from this limited sample. If you’re still unconvinced, look at what tech giants and industry leaders like Netflix, Airbnb, and Coca-Cola are doing. They all combine AI and translation in their product and marketing strategies. And they know a thing or two about winning over customers.
AI and human collaboration
Can AI translate languages as well as humans? Well, not yet, at least not entirely. Here are things that can hinder the AI translation processes:
idiomatic expressions;
cultural references;
cultural or other nuances;
emotional tone.
To keep these subtleties intact in translation, human translators must be a part of the process. Their work is also vital in quality assurance. In this role, they will review AI translations, accept or reject suggestions, and ensure high-quality translations with a human touch. Each correction they make will enhance future AI translations.
Combining AI and human expertise helps companies think globally. By balancing these translation services, businesses can get the best out of both. AI-powered translation software ensures processing speed, consistency, and scalability. At the same time, experienced translators will help maintain brand tone, compliance with local norms or expectations, and transcription accuracy.
Thank you for Subscription!
Geniusee’s AI solutions
If you’re ready to embark on a journey to accelerate your translation speed with AI, we’re here to support you. Our staff comprises over 200 experts in software engineering, data science and AI, and product design. We have completed over 100 projects for our clients across five continents.
One of our core services is AI-powered app development. We use cutting-edge technologies to turn your ideas into working apps that deliver tangible business value. Geniusee’s experts will support you every step of the way, from concept to deployment. This way, we will ensure you achieve your goals and exceed your customers’ expectations.
For custom AI-driven translation services, we adapt our approach to each client. For example, when working with Compose AI, our main challenges were creating a collaborative environment, optimizing resource use, migrating legacy code, and adding new features (like monetization).
By integrating AI tools into writing and translation services, forward-looking companies improve their scalability, cut costs, and offer users a premium experience through real-time content creation and localization capabilities. If you’re ready to start your digital transformation, we’d love to hear from you!
AI-Powered translation revolution
Tools that employ AI in translation are revolutionizing the industry by expediting processes and allowing companies to expand globally. However, human translators are still needed to ensure proper translation of cultural nuances, tone, idioms, etc. Combining AI and human translation cuts costs, enhances AI accuracy, and decreases project turnaround times without sacrificing the quality of translation.
If you want to join the AI-powered translation revolution, partner with Geniusee. We’ll help you with a custom AI translation solution so you can start your global expansion.