Romeo M., Technical Board Director.
When businesses venture into international markets, language barriers are common. Some companies think interpreters are no longer necessary with technology and AI tools, but the reality is that professional interpreters play a critical role in ensuring your international interactions succeed. Here’s why you might still need one.
TBH, Humans Still Do It Better
Before a meeting, you can brief a professional interpreter on your materials, goals, and the context—they’ll come prepared. They can pick up on tone shifts, slang, cultural cues, and subtle changes in delivery that machines just miss.
Sure, you can feed documents to AI and have it “learn” the content, but it still can’t understand sarcasm, emotional tone, or a sudden shift in accent. That human instinct? You can’t automate that.
AI Can Help—But Not Enough
AI has come a long way and works fine for simple translations. But in real conversations—especially high-stakes ones—it often falls short. It struggles with emotions, sarcasm, cultural context, and quick back-and-forth exchanges.
Human interpreters, on the other hand, can read the room, adjust on the fly, and clear up confusion instantly. They understand when something needs to be rephrased or softened. That kind of judgment? Still 100% human.
Remote, On-Site, or Hybrid?
Interpreting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Depending on your setup, you can choose from remote, on-site, or hybrid services—each with its own perks.
Selecting the right type depends on your situation and objectives. A reliable interpretation service provider can help you determine the best fit.
Real-Life Example: When AI Interpretation Fell Short
At a high-profile summit in China, Tencent’s AI-powered translation engine was employed to facilitate multilingual communication. However, the system struggled with accurately interpreting the speakers’ messages, leading to confusion and miscommunication among attendees. This incident sparked a broader debate about the reliability of AI in professional interpretation settings.
The shortcomings highlighted that, despite advancements, AI still lacks the nuanced understanding of context, tone, and cultural subtleties that human interpreters provide. This event serves as a cautionary tale for organizations considering AI as a standalone solution for complex, high-stakes multilingual interactions. (source: AI Interpreter Fail at China Summit Sparks Debate about Future of Profession – Slator)
A Final Warning
As exciting as all this “new and cool” tech is, it’s just not quite there yet—not for high-stakes situations. In our view, AI tools aren’t production-ready for interpretation. If you need clarity, confidence, and real connection, we’d still put our trust in the tried-and-true: experienced, human interpreters.
At Lexcode, we’ve built a roster of skilled, reliable interpreters who know how to handle the nuances of real conversations. And if budget’s a concern, don’t worry—we’re used to working things out to fit your needs. Just reach out. We’re happy to help you find a setup that works.
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