Translators are in the news in Luxembourg, predominantly because those that are employed by the European union are under pressure to become more efficient to the point where their workload has become untenable. However, Gen-AI is getting better every minute, or at least that is what Open-AI keeps telling us. Translation tools can already turn huge documents into multiple languages in seconds. They can even change tone, add formality, or make a joke. Sometimes the jokes are even funny! So, is it time to say goodbye to human translators and for the EU to save the millions of Euros of taxpayer’s money?

Some believe translation is the perfect job for AI. Machines learn from billions of examples and never complain about deadlines. They work fast, scale easily, and do not ask for coffee breaks or TVA reductions on new car purchases. Global companies, especially in Luxembourg’s finance and tech sectors, are using AI to blast content across the world at lightning speed. To many, the old translation model looks… slow. Very slow and expensive.

However, there is a twist. Translation is not only about matching words. Meaning matters. Context matters and regulators care. In areas like cyber security and finance, one tiny mistranslation can create a very expensive problem. A literal translation of a marketing slogan can also turn into a meme no brand wants.

Then there is the small issue of accuracy. AI still hallucinates. It will confidently invent things that never existed, like regulations from 1894 or a new country called “Luxenstein.” Human translators catch those mistakes and help content make sense to real humans. They also know when a phrase sounds rude in another language, useful if you are working in 26 languages!

Maybe translators just need to shift from pure translation to reviewing and improving machine output. It is a bit like becoming an editor for a very enthusiastic intern who thinks it knows everything.

So, is the translation industry finished? No, but it must evolve. AI is taking over the repetitive tasks while humans focus on quality, creativity, and avoiding international legal scandals. The future belongs to those who can work with the machines, not ignore them. After all, someone needs to make sure the robots are not accidentally calling your customers.