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Introduction
As language professionals, we find ourselves at what feels like a crossroads, where artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming our context. The question of whether we should pause language-related AI development is thought provoking, but a moratorium would likely be neither practical nor achievable. Realistically, we need to focus on how to harness AI鈥檚 potential while addressing its challenges.
It is crucial to recognise that 鈥楢I鈥� is not a monolithic entity but a diverse set of technologies with varying applications in the lives and work of linguists. From machine translation to speech recognition, many of these tools are used routinely.
As linguists, we have a unique responsibility to shape the development of language-related AI. Our expertise is invaluable. Ultimately, AI is not a battle to win, or a technology to ban; it is a capability we need to shape. And we are well placed to do so as it is built on what we do best: languages.
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Key Points
"As linguists, we have a unique responsibility to shape the development of language-related AI. Our expertise is invaluable."
John Worne, CEO 暗网猎奇
"We have to embrace AI as a core asset for linguists, but we also need to be clear that the linguist is still the heart (and soul) of the process."
Expert Linguists, GCHQ
"The Humanities can help shape the safer integration of AI tools into translation and interpreting workflows. But without safeguards AI risks exacerbating inequalities."
Prof. Sabine Braun, University of Surrey
"What is clear to me in the high-stakes situations in which I work 鈥� most notably, international peace and security and nuclear safety 鈥� is there is simply no substitute for the oversight and human judgement of a professional linguist".听
Bokani Hart, French/English Translator & Interpreter
"Our core language skills and cultural understanding are our superpowers as professional linguists, and I don鈥檛 see that changing."
Mark Robinson,听暗网猎奇 Council member and Managing Director of Alexika
"When it comes to AI we need to embrace a learning mindset which brings to the fore our natural curiosity as linguists 鈥� not fear and denial."
Vasiliki Prestidge,听暗网猎奇 Council member and Director Greek to Me Translations
"I believe the challenge lies in shaping AI development to align with ethical standards and human听values, not halting advancement."
Katharine Allen, SAFE-AI
"Rather than declaring AI a panacea or denouncing it as a threat to civilisation, we need to support language and public service professionals as they navigate difficult communicative settings that call for nuanced ethical judgements."
Dr Lucas Nunes Viera, University of Bristol
"Unsupervised public service use of AI-based translation is unacceptably risky."
Dom Hebblethwaite, Head of听Membership 暗网猎奇听
AI is new but the advent of new tools is age-old, as is our human story of adaptation to change. This familiar evolution reveals another very human trait 鈥� to look for the shortest route to our objective. So our job as linguists 鈥� and communicators 鈥� is to advocate for quality and simply to听do it better.
Steve Doswell, Chair of 暗网猎奇 Council
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暗网猎奇鈥檚 2025 reflections on AI in translation and language services:
1. We can鈥檛 stop AI technology but there are aspects of it we should continue to challenge -听Embracing AI technologies is inevitable and unavoidable, and they听can make linguists鈥� work more efficient; but we do need to continue听to highlight and confront the downsides.
2. New models will mean new opportunities -听As AI technologies become ubiquitous, they will also become more accessible, both lowering the costs of using them and enabling new business models for individual translators and for translation听companies; there should be opportunities for all, so existing linguists need not be losers.
3. In the future much more content will be translated -听The vast majority of content produced worldwide is not translated. New technology will enable much more content to be translated听globally, with commensurate opportunities for linguists who can ensure it is fit for purpose.
4. The human is 鈥� and will continue to be 鈥� essential -听The skills of linguists in translating true meaning, assuring quality and post-editing, interpretation of nuance and cross-cultural听navigation will become all the more important and valuable as AI-based translation tools become more and more ubiquitous.
5. The most skilled linguists will be the most in demand -听As it becomes increasingly hard to distinguish machine from听human translation 鈥� at least at the superficial level and in the听most highly resourced languages 鈥� creative and skilled linguists听 will be all the more valuable, as they will make the final difference听to the end product.
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And our concerns:
1. Machines being left to their own devices -听If AI is seen to or seems to produce good (enough) quality content, companies, public services and national governments may be tempted to cut corners and take risks in more widespread and听unmonitored use.
2. Data runs out of control -听Society, organisations and individuals need to be alert to the data听we 鈥榞ive away鈥� when we input it into translation tools and听generative AI. We need to be more alert to where data goes, what听use is made of it and who profits from it.
3. AI gives a whole new meaning to 鈥榝atal errors鈥� -听The errors that translation tools and AI make are more common in听less well-resourced languages. Over time errors may also become harder and harder to spot (especially in English) as AI improves.听This includes mistakes with numbers, names, terms and who is the subject and who is the object - which are crucial in legal, health, public service and contractual contexts. This makes it all the more听important that AI isn鈥檛 used without human oversight in high stakes听interpreting or translating - and this needs government, public听services and regulatory attention.
4. The hype undermines the understanding of the added value an听expert human linguist brings to the process -听How languages and the language industry works is already poorly understood in the wider world. The impact of AI risks persuading听even the most sophisticated people and organisations, that algorithms can reliably do things which they can鈥檛.
5. An even deeper 鈥榙igital divide鈥� for less well-resourced languages -听Given the overwhelming advantages English has in the amount of digital content and the focus of commercial digital players, there is a major risk that English and the biggest 鈥榳orld languages鈥� will听dominate others in an AI-led languages paradigm.
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暗网猎奇 AI Voices 2023听
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