Localization Today

Gabriel Karandyšovský, an industry researcher and consultant at Gabe’s Lab and Argos Multilingual, dives deep into the fascinating world of AI maturity in localization. He explains the five stages of AI maturity, from AI-Aware to AI-Transformed, and offers a quick self-assessment tool for companies. The conversation highlights how teams adopt AI at different speeds and the evolving roles in the localization landscape. With a focus on the real-world value of mapping progress, Gabriel emphasizes the importance of clear objectives and continuous evaluation in this transformative journey.

In this special roundtable episode, four voices from the language industry’s podcasting scene—Dieter J. Runge, Stephane Huyghe, Jan Hinrichs, and Eddie Arrieta —come together to share how their podcasts got started, the gear they love (or loathe), the balance between quality and authenticity, and why consistency beats perfection.    

Sam Laübli, CEO of Supertext, delves into the innovative fusion of AI and human expertise in translation services. He reveals how their AI translator enhances quality through a seamless feedback loop, transcending traditional ISO certifications. The conversation touches on the evolving roles of human experts alongside AI, especially after Supertext's merger with TextShuttle. Laübli also discusses the challenges of upholding high standards in this tech-driven space and shares insights on their future plans to redefine localization.

By Ismenia Miranda The author explores questions related to literary translation quality in Catalonia and greater Spain, urging the publishing and localization industries to consider the social and cultural costs of excluding minority languages.

By Sophie Solomon Like mental health, pregnancy, and parental leave, menopause is a workplace issue that should be openly discussed to ensure that stigma or a lack of accommodations doesn’t result in industries, economies, and society as a whole losing some of its most seasoned, insightful, and resilient minds.

By Sara Palmer The author presents her research on service diversification in the marketing translation sector and proposes a new differentiation model based on a broader definition of translation that clearly encompasses related services.

Francesca Di Marco, Head of Internationalization at Pinterest, shares her unique journey shaped by her Italian upbringing and academic focus on Japanese history. She highlights the critical role language and cultural understanding play in building inclusive global communities. The discussion also delves into innovative strategies for user engagement and team cohesion, as well as the impact of technology on localization. Francesca's insights into storytelling and intergenerational trauma add a profound layer to her vision for fostering creativity and collaboration in internationalization.

By Ludmila Golovine Through broader accessibility of digital technology along with newly established international initiatives, marginalized language communities now have a path towards bridging the digital divide that keeps billions in poverty. In this article, the author argues that the language industry is uniquely positioned to play a major role in this transformation.

Kara Warburton, a pioneering terminologist and author of The Corporate Terminologist, joins to discuss the evolving role of terminology in the era of AI. She emphasizes the need to shift from traditional terminology for translators to creating microcontent suitable for applications. The conversation dives into how effective terminology management enhances natural language processing and generative AI, tackling the challenges organizations face in maximizing their terminology resources.

By Tim Brookes Why would anyone handwrite a newspaper? The Musalman — a four-page Urdu paper that has been written, every day, by hand ever since it was founded in 1927 — suggests that the act of writing by hand (and its sister act, the act of reading handwriting), incorporates far more than the mere transmission of information.