Translate-A-Thon 2024
Friday October 18 5:00pm-10:00pm
Saturday October 19 9:00am-10:00pm
To join us remotely: One click to join zoom meeting
OR
https://umich.zoom.us/j/91880341541
Passcode: TAT
Whether you are a novice translator, or experienced professional, join us to translate for our community! Take a look at our 2024 projects, and learn more about the event from the FAQ. Have a project? We are still accepting submissions. All languages are welcome -come when you can, stay as long as you want.
Register for Translate-a-thon | View Project Gallery | Translate-a-thon FAQ
*CORRECTION: the keynote lecture is taking place in room 2255 by the State Street entrance!
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the translation and localization industry, but the question remains: Can AI fully replace human translators, or is it simply another tool in the translator’s toolkit? In this presentation, we will explore both the perils and potential of AI in translation, offering a balanced look at the technology’s impact on the future of language services.
This session will provide a deep dive into how AI tools like neural machine translation (NMT) and real-time speech recognition systems are revolutionizing translation workflows, driving efficiency, and reducing costs. We’ll examine successful case studies, such as the EU’s hybrid AI-human approach, and eBay’s AI-powered global expansion strategy.
However, the presentation also highlights the significant risks AI poses: from biased outputs and hallucinations to data security concerns and cultural insensitivity. Through real-world examples—such as Facebook’s infamous mistranslation leading to legal consequences and Google Translate’s gender biases—we uncover why human expertise remains critical in ensuring quality and nuance.
Join us for this thought-provoking session that answers the fundamental question: Will AI take over the translation industry, or is the future of language services one of collaboration between human linguists and intelligent machines?
Bridget Hylak, CT, CI, MTC is a 30+ year language industry veteran, international speaker, consultant, author and trainer, working hard to bridge the gap between silo’d industry sectors. She is a globally recognized industry expert recently interviewed by TIME Magazine and NPR, has co-authored a guidance on Machine Interpreting for the federal government, and is a sought-after industry expert who serves on numerous committees in the language, language technology, AI and DEIA arenas.
Hylak is a regular contributor to Multilingual magazine, serves as Chief Industry Strategist for two language industry startups named to Slator’s “50 under 50“ list for 2023, and has consulted on several leading language technology tools. She is a past Administrator of the ATA Language Technology Division, currently copilots as Assistant Administrator, serves on ATA’s Interpretation Professional Advisory Committee (IPAC) and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Language Monitoring and Evaluation Team (MET), and is a founding member of I-LEAD, the International Language, Equity and Accessibility Drivers.
A Stanford University graduate with degrees in Broadcast Journalism, and Spanish and Portuguese, she has also worked and completed post-graduate studies abroad in Argentina and Moscow. A certified court interpreter and ATA certified translator, her current efforts focus primarily on AI ethics and language technology consulting as Senior Consultant with TongueTEK Language Consulting.
