AI revision

AI translation: Free or not?

More and more companies are using AI themselves to translate texts. As a translation agency, we notice the effects of this. When clients tell us during conversations that they use ‘free’ translation tools, alarm bells start ringing. Nothing is truly free, especially when systems have to be maintained to provide such services. The business model is hidden somewhere else, and it is often not (immediately) clear where that is. Below, we explain more about the possibilities and risks of AI.

AI
At Translation Agency Mettaal, we closely follow technological developments in the translation industry. We see translation tools improving all the time. But as language professionals, of course we see the mistakes that all tools still make. Whether they are acceptable or not depends on the intended use.

Risks of free translation tools
As children, our parents teach us that almost nothing is free – excellent advice that we sometimes forget as adults. Youtube videos or content on Instagram may seem free, but on closer inspection, you realise that your data is being used for (targeted) advertising.

The same applies to free translation tools. After all, these companies need to make money as well. There are two major risks

1. What happens to your text?
   When you use a free tool, there is a high chance that your text will be reused by the provider. They may do this to further train the AI algorithm or, for example, to make ‘your content’ available to other users. The tool DeepL, for instance, belongs to the same company as the website Linguee. Will someone come across your confidential company memos on Linguee soon?
2. Personal Data
   Does your text contain personal data? If that is the case, extra caution is required. The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) sets strict rules for sharing personal data. This is not permitted without justification, especially when data is stored outside the European Economic Area.

Within Europe, data protection is well regulated. Outside Europe, regulations are often far less strict. Of course it is commandable if you have brought your own cybersecurity to a high standard, but if the translation tool’s database is poorly secured, your information could still end up exposed – potentially resulting in serious fines.

A better solution
We understand that quality is not always the top priority. Sometimes you simply want to understand the content. Translation Agency Mettaal can help with that as well. For these kinds of assignments, we use paid versions of tools, which means the AI or translation tool is not allowed to store texts or use them for any other purpose. When you choose an AI solution via Mettaal, you pay a fee for the tool and can be assured of secure language conversion. It may not the quality you expect for us, but in some cases, that is not needed.

AI-editing
If you want to be certain that there are no odd mistakes or unpleasant inconsistencies in the text, the editors at Mettaal can revise AI-translated content to achieve a higher-quality final result.

A short email from a friend in Singapore? That should be fine as using a free tool will hardly have any consequences. In other cases however, we do not recommend free versions. It is better to use a paid tool or opt for top quality by engaging professionals.

Do you need an AI translation and do you want it to be handled securely? Contact us and ask about our options.