AI IN TRANSLATION REPORT: WHAT WE’RE REALLY SEEING ON THE FRONT LINE

AI IN TRANSLATION REPORT: WHAT WE’RE REALLY SEEING ON THE FRONT LINE

While Artificial Intelligence promises speed and efficiency, its growing use in regulated and high-risk environments is raising questions around accuracy, accountability, and compliance.

AI translation is often presented as faster, cheaper, and “good enough.” But frontline delivery tells a more complex story.

Based on extensive operational feedback from linguists, revisers, and project managers working in regulated environments, several recurring issues continue to surface when AI is used without professional oversight. In this report, Iwona Lebiedowicz, Director at PAB Languages Centre Ltd summarise recurring observations we consistently hear from senior translators, translation managers and localisation specialists.

These are people responsible for final outputs, client satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. Their feedback is not theoretical, it is operational.

Fluency is not accuracy
AI produces polished, readable text, but fluency alone does not guarantee correctness. Subtle errors in terminology, tone, or meaning can materially change intent, particularly in legal, medical, or technical contexts.

Consistency remains a major weakness
AI frequently produces multiple variations of the same term within a single document. While glossaries and style guides help, they require preparation, monitoring, and human intervention to maintain coherence.

Post-editing is often slower than expected
Contrary to common assumptions, correcting AI output can take longer than translating from scratch due to meaning drift, fragmented logic, and formatting issues.

Nuance, ambiguity, and cultural intent remain high-risk
Idiomatic language, regulatory phrasing, and culturally sensitive content still require human judgment. AI cannot reliably assess intent, consequence, or audience impact.

The real issue is expectation, not technology
Practitioners consistently agree AI works best when embedded thoughtfully, with clear accountability and human review, not when treated as a replacement for expertise.

The organisations achieving the best outcomes are not choosing between AI or humans. They are combining both through hybrid, risk-based workflows supported by governance and quality assurance.

To explore these insights in full,  including an AI GOVERNANCE CHECKLIST,  download the complete report here: https://www.pabtranslation.co.uk/ai-translation-report/

The report offers a balanced, practical perspective outlining where AI adds value, where it introduces risk. It also includes an AI governance checklist designed to help organisations make informed, responsible decisions.

PAB Languages Centre Ltd delivers certified translation and multilingual communication services, underpinned by the highest standards of quality and security, including Cyber Essentials Plus, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022. PAB helps UK organisations streamline operations and improve efficiency through an intuitive, easy-to-use platform designed around real business needs. With 24/7 their multilingual contact centre, organisations can now offer seamless conversations at every point of contact, enabling customers to communicate clearly, confidently, and without language barriers any time, in any language.