The invention of artificial intelligence – its dizzying incorporation into everyday life – put in check many activities and jobs that could disappear. The warnings from experts are multiple, even apocalyptic. Many fear that in the future it will be machines and not men who will be in control. There is concern that applications or programs replace professions. In this sense, GPT Chat – which translates instantly – threatens human translators. At first glance, letting yourself be carried away by this paranoia, you might think that their days are numbered, and that there is nothing they can do to prevent GPT Chat from taking over in the future and being the only bridge between languages.
Translation careers know this risk. Artificial translators are increasingly common, and inevitable. Anyone can use them at any time. Which leaves the human translator in a more diffuse place. What, then, will be her role in a world where automatic translations?
Professionals consulted by Clarion They assure that artificial intelligence is redefining the role of the translator. “The arrival of the GPT Chat has had a strong impact on the profession, presenting a new challenge. This technology is here to stay and it is necessary to accept it and incorporate it for our benefit,” says Elizabeth Guitta, head of the Translations area at the University Language Center (CUI). .
“There is no doubt that, as with any technological innovation, artificial intelligence is progressively becoming a tool that facilitates the work of translators, shortens times, increases productivity and helps solve simple problems. And in that sense it is also a fact that it has a direct and negative impact on the demand for translation, and on teaching institutions and organizations, such as translators or schools, although a measurable reduction in enrollment has not yet been perceived,” he adds. Guitta.
They recognize that the technological challenge pushes academia and teaching, training or training spaces to debate the need for adapt the curriculum and teaching to new requirements. “There has long been a debate among translators’ associations and literary guilds about whether or not to teach post-editing or post-translation to translators, that is, the work of professionals in revising texts after what has been done through the systems. neurons,” said the CUI specialist.
For some time now, work has been done in the areas of translation on the post-editing of more formal texts or polysemic texts (such as certain literary texts). Currently, subjects linked to post-translation are being incorporated into translation courses in order not to miss the technological train. The results suggest that the human translator will be necessary to edit, review and correct the so-called “hallucinations” of artificial intelligence.
Claudia Cirauqui, director of the Public Translator program in English at the UADE, believes that “far from having a negative impact, working in post-editing opens up a new field of performance for us.” This job consists of doing corrections and editions of the text automatically translated. “There is something that is irreplaceable: the interpretation made by the human translator that an artificial translation cannot do,” says Cirauqui.
He considers that it is essential that the translation student is familiar with this type of technology, since it can give agility to their work. But he maintains that the human translator is essential to fix automation flaws. “Especially in technical texts where you have to work in depth with the content.”
Recognize that there is a reconversion of the translator. “The race is changing tol incorporate these technologies. It is a tool but not a replacement. It serves so that in a short time you can achieve a production that meets the quality standards demanded by the market.” And he adds that there are large translation agencies that do not allow this type of technology due to issues of client confidentiality. “They are texts with very specific information on certain topics. “This way they reserve the information they are translating.”
Artificial intelligence is inevitable. So the role of the translator must be molded to new needs, incorporating new technologies. However, it is important to highlight that the translator not only expresses in one language what he reads in another, but that he is responsible for transmitting concepts and give meaning to a message. “It is still in the process of debate and testing whether or not AI will be able to fulfill this function that is so absolutely typical of humans,” Guitta closes.
