A few weeks ago, I wrote about the intellectual and practical need to develop a Turing Test for Speech Translation to measure whether AI-driven interpreting systems have achieved high level performance in real-time language translation. The proposed test would be passed only when human judges can no longer distinguish whether a translation was produced by…
Author: claudio
The Turing Test for Speech Translation
Recent advancements in artificial intelligence have seen Large Language Models (LLMs) pass the famous Turing Test in conversational settings, marking a milestone in AI development. This achievement, demonstrated in some recent empirical studies, illustrates just how closely AI-driven dialogue systems have begun to mimic genuine human interactions. This should also serve as a reminder that…
Ethical aspects of Machine Interpreting
Machine interpreting (MI), like any emerging technology, presents a range of ethical challenges that require careful consideration and governance (Cath, 2018; Floridi, 2021). Designed to enhance communication and understanding across language barriers, from everyday interactions to high-stakes scenarios, this technology has the potential to significantly impact diverse areas of human life. For this reason, its…
Beyond AI: Why the CIRIN Bulletin Still Matters
In the rapidly evolving approaches to academic work, where digital resources and artificial intelligence are transforming the way research is conducted, there remains a steadfast beacon of scholarly rigor in Interpreting Studies: the CIRIN Bulletin. Compiled biannually by Daniel Gile, one of the most esteemed figures in the discipline, the CIRIN Bulletin is far more…
Panel: The Future of Interpreter Training: Challenges, AI, and the Path Forward
This week, I had the privilege of moderating an interesting panel discussion on interpreter training and its future in the face of rapid technological change (video recording here). I was able to bring together experts from academia and industry, including: Carlo Eugeni, Winnie Heh, Giorgia Martina, and Dieter Runge. Each of them brought a unique…
System 0 – how technology is changing our minds
It doesn’t happen often, but every now and then, it does. You come across something — an idea, a concept, a phrase — and it hits you like a lightning bolt. Suddenly, everything clicks. It could be a brand-new discovery, the articulation of an intuition you’ve long had, or the moment when a vague notion…
“Will AI replace interpreters” is the wrong question to ask
If it’s true that questions are nearly as important as answers, then our first paradigm shift in grasping the profound changes unfolding in the field of interpreting should be to reframe the question itself. Instead of asking, Will AI replace interpreters? we should be asking, Can AI match human performance in interpreting? Only by reframing…
What future for translation and interpreting training institutions?
In this post, I aim to explore the future of translation and interpreting education in academia, particularly the trajectory of translation departments and faculties. In short, my prediction is that translation departments and faculties will gradually lose relevance and, ultimately, at least some of them, sadly, disappear. Translation as a discipline will undoubtedly survive, as…
10 random lessons I learned about AI (and humans)
Lesson 1: “Many tasks that humans solve using intelligence can be solved by machines without requiring human-like intelligence.” In my opinion, one of the most profound insights on AI was articulated years ago by philosopher Luciano Floridi. He asserted, in a strikingly simple way, that while humans may be special in many respects, the tasks…
Trends for 2025 in Technology and Interpreting
Predicting trends is never an exact science—it’s more of an art. Yet, I’m eager to take on the challenge. The good news? At the intersection of Interpreting and Technology I don’t anticipate any dramatic upheavals, apocalyptic scenarios, or seismic disruptions in the space. Change, after all, is a gradual process. Evolution unfolds over time; it…