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AI &AUTOMATION BAROMETER REPORT
• In the short term, gen AI will have a detrimental effect, as uneducated users believe it will be the end
to their localization needs. They will find out that it’s not infallible nor cheap, just as Google Translate
never was in a business context and at scale. In the long term, every tool that we use will need to have
AI features that reduce the number of monotonous, dull tasks we perform. In many cases, it will end
existing professions, from inexperienced/underperforming translators to anyone who’s job is only to
“coordinate” other people’s work.
• It is probably already impacting as it generates uncertainties and refrain clients from spending
• It will reduce the industry over time as quality and precision get improved combined with in-app
solutions
• Major impact: Already clients seem to be expecting AI-based services at lower rates.
• Restructuring of the whole industry. Questionable existence of small LSPs.
• The impact on localization industry would be similar likewise it’s doing to other industry but with
speed, quality also has to be of utmost level, which I am little skeptical about. My observation is the
result of my experience with website translation and media translation services especially synthetic
voice over.
• The industry is undermining itself by pretending that the machines can do the translation work.
• They will demand higher volumes, higher quality and lower proces
• This is a seismic change -but not due to any improvements in quality of output this is incremental
and won’t improve until all the silly old fashioned CATs and TMSs start processing “long context”. But
the real change has already started in clients: there is much more self-service, much less demand for
trivial projects, and you can clearly see the cutting out of the expensive and cumbersome middleman,
that is the LSP. And you can’t blame them. If I ran a client organization, I would be the first to cut the
LSP. You can do 50% of what we’re doing with a 50 euro DeepL subscription. And that’s not even AI.
LOOKING AHEAD
AI &AUTOMATION BAROMETER REPORT
• In the short term, gen AI will have a detrimental effect, as uneducated users believe it will be the end
to their localization needs. They will find out that it’s not infallible nor cheap, just as Google Translate
never was in a business context and at scale. In the long term, every tool that we use will need to have
AI features that reduce the number of monotonous, dull tasks we perform. In many cases, it will end
existing professions, from inexperienced/underperforming translators to anyone who’s job is only to
“coordinate” other people’s work.
• It is probably already impacting as it generates uncertainties and refrain clients from spending
• It will reduce the industry over time as quality and precision get improved combined with in-app
solutions
• Major impact: Already clients seem to be expecting AI-based services at lower rates.
• Restructuring of the whole industry. Questionable existence of small LSPs.
• The impact on localization industry would be similar likewise it’s doing to other industry but with
speed, quality also has to be of utmost level, which I am little skeptical about. My observation is the
result of my experience with website translation and media translation services especially synthetic
voice over.
• The industry is undermining itself by pretending that the machines can do the translation work.
• They will demand higher volumes, higher quality and lower proces
• This is a seismic change -but not due to any improvements in quality of output this is incremental
and won’t improve until all the silly old fashioned CATs and TMSs start processing “long context”. But
the real change has already started in clients: there is much more self-service, much less demand for
trivial projects, and you can clearly see the cutting out of the expensive and cumbersome middleman,
that is the LSP. And you can’t blame them. If I ran a client organization, I would be the first to cut the
LSP. You can do 50% of what we’re doing with a 50 euro DeepL subscription. And that’s not even AI.
LOOKING AHEAD
