Translation for tomorrow: Understanding the impact of Neural Machine Translation on Language Service Providers
This paper explores the impact of machine learning on the Language service providers, which provide translation and localization services for businesses.
This well-written article clearly states the numerous challenges that the translation industry is facing as a result of the incorporation of machine learning.
Addressing your questions, I think that the translation business will keep changing at a radical pace. It is estimated that within one to three years, 50% of the translation job will be performed by machines. Therefore, the effective adoption of machine learning is essential to survive in this dynamic industry. [1]
As your article mentions, LSP will have to compete with big technology companies such as Google that devote many resources to their translation services. As these companies keep improving their algorithms, I wonder what can LSP do to differentiate their services. Should they focus on translations for specific industries (differentiation strategy), or should they collaborate with the big technology companies to co-create translation products (collaborative strategy). The latter strategy may be an effective way for LSP to adapt to the new scenario, but is the company willing to share its know-how with the big players?
To sum up, I enjoyed your article and I think you raised some interesting questions regarding the future of the translation industry.
[1] Will Machine Learning AI Make Human Translators An Endangered Species? Bernard Marr, Forbes, August 24th 2018, accessed November 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2018/08/24/will-machine-learning-ai-make-human-translators-an-endangered-species/#69cc05a73902