Should I use machine translation or AI?
Working with a professional, human translator is one way to get documents translated, but it isn’t the only one. Perhaps you’ve already tried DeepL, Google Translate, or even an AI tool like ChatGPT or another Large Language Model (LLM). All these tools have pros and cons. If you’re unsure how – and when – to use them, we’ll be happy to advise you.
In some cases, a machine-generated translation can be a good starting point. However, some degree of human checking is usually necessary. The extent of checking required will depend on the desired level of quality, ranging from basic proofreading and straightforward corrections of grammatical mistakes and errors in meaning, through to extensive editing and rewriting to adapt the text to your target audience and make it easy to understand and pleasant to read.
The Syllabes team of (human!) experts can provide assistance at several levels, taking into account your specific requirements and target audience. Because every project is different, we’ve designed a questionnaire to help determine exactly what level of service you need. Get in touch to find out more. We’ll work with you to identify the best solution for your project.
What about confidentiality?
Excellent question! You’ve probably heard some version of the phrase ‘if you’re not paying, you’re the product’. When you use free online translation or AI tools, it’s unlikely that your texts will remain confidential. Your content will probably be used to further train the tool. And even with paid services, you need to be careful. Make sure you read all the small print, and check the geographical location of the servers used to process your data. Paying for a service does not necessarily guarantee the confidentiality of your data. When dealing with confidential documents, it’s best to consult your IT or legal department. And if you have questions about translating such documents, feel free to get in touch. We’ll be happy to talk through the options with you.
AI at Syllabes
As generative AI becomes more and more widespread, the world of translation – like other sectors – is seeing significant changes. At Syllabes, we’ve always made a conscious effort to stay up to date with technological innovations relevant to our profession so that we can offer our clients the best possible service. AI is no different, and we’re following developments in order to understand how different tools work, what they can – and can’t – do, and whether it makes sense to incorporate these new technologies into our working processes. Ultimately, our goal is to provide our clients with high-quality, ethical language services and honour our commitment to transparency.
This page summarises our research and reflections to date. It is intended as an insight into our experience and practice rather than an exhaustive account of all the technologies and tools available. We aim to periodically update the page as our knowledge and understanding evolve in light of new developments in the sector.