PGLS Pulse: April 2024

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the first edition of the PGLS Pulse: your source of timely and thoughtful news about the language services industry.

Harmonizing AI and Human Expertise in Language Services

Generative AI has become a popular concept in the language industry, but whether it will effectively replace human roles remains to be seen.

Professionals in legal and medical domains emphasize values such as honesty, transparency, and accuracy, which Generative AI may struggle to fully embody. We're actively working on AI-enabled solutions, but each one includes a linguist overseeing to prevent errors.

The language industry is in a transformative phase, contemplating the shift from traditional models to adopting speech-to-speech AI for interpreters, aiming to enhance accessibility, reduce costs, and improve time efficiency.

Although AI may automate some tasks, our responsibility to prioritize customer needs remains unchanged. We're exploring solutions to enhance accessibility and efficiency while preserving human agency.

Industry News

Key Trends in the Language Services Industry

• Generative AI and Large Language Models (GenAI): GenAI, introduced in 2023, reshaped the language industry. Despite initial resistance, LSPs now see the value of combining human expertise with AI, anticipating growth in 2024.
• Corporate Language Services: Major companies like IQVIA, Uber, and Canva have entered the language market, potentially changing competition. Yet, complex business language needs will maintain demand for LSP expertise.
• Volume Dynamics and Demand: Despite fewer "weighted words," demand for localization is increasing. Technological efficiency lowers revenue per request, but overall demand rises due to more content needing localization at reduced costs.
• Multilingual Content Creation: Large Language Models (LLMs) disrupt content creation, leading to a higher demand for AI-generated content that requires post-editing. Tech-savvy LSPs see a rise in client requests, altering content creation approaches.
• Continued Growth in Interpreting: Interpreting services grow, driven by geopolitics. Despite AI advancements, interpreting remains largely unaffected, especially during crises, highlighting the need for accurate communication and language equality.

Source: The 2024 Nimdzi 100 Report.

Lost In AI Translation: Growing Reliance on Language Apps Jeopardizes Some Asylum Applications

Carlos, an Afro-Indigenous individual who could speak Portuguese but not read or write it, spent six months in ICE detention when an AI translation tool failed to understand his regional accent.

The US immigration system increasingly relies on AI-powered translation tools like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator without fully grasping its limits.

• Language Differences: Certain languages, especially those vastly different from English or less documented, pose challenges for AI translation tools due to inherent linguistic variations that may not be accurately captured.
• Limited Training Data: AI systems rely on the quality and quantity of training data. Less widely spoken languages often lack sufficient data for effective AI training, leading to inaccuracies and translation biases.
• Cultural Nuances: AI translation tools struggle to capture the nuanced cultural aspects embedded within languages. Understanding cultural contexts is crucial for accurate translation, which AI tools may fail to provide.

“We are dealing with people who are traumatized and our approach is trauma-informed. As an interpreter, you cannot under-do or overdo [the translation], but at the same time, you should have empathy to convey their emotions and feelings and that is only possible with a human being.” said Yaseen, a translator on the Afghan language team.

Read the full article here.

For Linguists

Pueblo Espa?ol: A Course Made To Rapidly Improve Spanish Language Skills

Pueblo Espa?ol is a unique eight-day immersion program with no classes or grammar sessions. The course is designed so that the participants live their daily lives in Spanish. Eating meals, conversing, and taking outings together.

Read the full article here.

States Address Need for Interpreters in Education

According to the American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education, interpreters often veer from education due to lower wages. However, states like Washington and Illinois are introducing legislation to professionalize school interpreters, aiming to bridge language gaps between educators and families.

Read the full article here.

Job Opportunities

We are always looking for talented language professionals. If you are a translator, interpreter, or language instructor, PGLS wants to work with you! Explore our open roles here.

PGLS News

• PGLS ranked #56 in the Nimdzi 100 Rankings.
• PGLS ranked #6 on Inc. Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Mid-Atlantic Private Companies.
• Mohamed Hussein, Founder and CEO of PGLS, won the 2024 Virginia Black Business Leaders Award.
• Scott Swanson and Mark Byrne exhibited at the NABE (National Association for Bilingual Education) Annual Conference in support of English Language Learners.
• Chris Donnelly and Miriam Manzo participated in the Multi-Cultural Night at Westview Elementary from Spokane Public Schools to discuss the importance of language access in education.
• 71% of employees at PGLS are female. On International Women's Day, Catherine Early and Sandi Manning spoke about the power of women's voices and how they contribute to the industry's diversity of thought.
• Read our blog on "FDA Guidance for Diversity in Clinical Trials."
• PGLS sponsored the SAFE AI study, aimed at informing the development of guidelines for the safe use of AI in interpreting.?In the words of Mohamed Hussein, "We support the SAFE-AI Task Force's objectives to set best practices and establish, disseminate, and promote industry-wide guidelines to ensure the use of AI in interpreting is safe while acknowledging its limitations."

Careers

As a minority-owned business, we’re all about embracing diversity of thought and fostering a culture of innovation to break language barriers and promote equity. Believe you would be a good fit? Explore our current openings here.

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