Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the translation industry, offering new tools and methods that can improve the efficiency and quality of translations. However, AI also poses some challenges for official translation in Colombia.
Software-based technological tools have accompanied the work of official Colombian translators for more than three decades and today, we can affirm without fear of being wrong, that the arrival of artificial intelligence is a step in the right direction to ensure that professional translators have more support in the development of their work. However, in the official translation niche, AI – if adopted by the entities that regulate the activity – could transform the profession for the good of all those involved. However, to get to that point, it is still necessary for technology to solve some challenges, which we explain below:
Machine translation accuracy
Accuracy is a fundamental requirement for official translations. Translated documents must be 100% accurate to be legally valid. AI is not yet perfect in this regard, and can make mistakes that could have serious consequences.
For example, a translation error could lead to a misinterpretation of a legal contract. This could have financial or even criminal consequences for the parties involved.
Cultural context for official translation
Official translations must take into account the cultural context of the country in which they will be used. AI may have difficulty understanding and correctly translating cultural nuances, which could lead to misinterpretations.
For example, a translation error could lead to a cultural offense. This could damage relationships between the people or organizations involved.
Translation of specialized texts
AI is not yet capable of translating specialized texts, such as legal, medical or technical documents. These types of texts require in-depth knowledge of the topic and specific language, which AI cannot always provide.
For example, a translation error could lead to an incorrect medical diagnosis. This could have serious consequences for a person's health.
Regulation of official translation in Colombia
The official translation is regulated by the Colombian Foreign Ministry. AI could challenge this regulation, as AI systems could translate documents automatically without the intervention of a human translator.
The Foreign Ministry may need to develop new regulations for machine translation to ensure its quality and reliability.
Acceptance of a machine translation for official purposes
Colombian authorities do not accept translations made automatically with AI as legal evidence. This could limit the application of AI in the official translation sector.
This may eventually change, but Colombian authorities will need time to transition to accepting machine translations as legal evidence.
AI Training for Official Translators
Official translators must be trained to use AI responsibly. This requires specific training in the use of AI systems for translation.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry could offer training courses for official translators on the use of AI.
The future of Artificial Intelligence and official translation
With the development of new technologies and the training of official translators, AI could help improve the efficiency, quality and accessibility of official translations.
Some possible solutions to the challenges of AI for official translation in Colombia could be:
- Develop more accurate AI systems capable of understanding cultural context.
This could be done by using advanced machine learning techniques as well as more complete and representative training data.
- Develop norms and standards for automatic translation that guarantee its quality and reliability.
This could be done through collaboration with international organizations, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
- Offer training to official translators in the use of AI systems.
This could be done through in-person or online training courses.
Despite these challenges, AI has the potential to transform official translation in Colombia. With the development of new technologies and the training of official translators, AI could help improve the efficiency, quality and accessibility of official translations.
