When results matter: the value of professional translators and interpreters
With access to machine translation (MT) tools now widely available to casual users, it might be tempting to think that the challenge of bridging language barriers has been solved, and that professional translators and interpreters are no longer needed. But this is not the case. Professional translators and interpreters deliver something that machine translation, including genAI, cannot reliably replicate, and in many contexts the consequences of getting it wrong can be severe.
The human difference
Despite rapid advances in machine translation, human expertise continues to offer something distinct and valuable. AI tools predict probable word sequences based on their training data. Professional translators do far more than converting words from one language to another; they understand meaning and intent. They respond to real-world context, using the subtle nuances of language to create messages that engage audiences. They bring cultural understanding, ensuring that communications resonate with local markets. And they navigate complex legal and technical terminology with precision.
A machine can produce a grammatically correct sentence, but a professional translator can produce the right sentence for the situation, the audience and the purpose. In situations where accuracy, nuance and cultural sensitivity are essential, professional translators and interpreters add clear value.
Managing risk
The value of commissioning professional language services becomes most apparent when errors can result in potentially harmful consequences.
In healthcare settings, NHS England has issued clear advice: when there’s a language barrier, professional interpreters with healthcare expertise should be used. Miscommunication in medical settings can lead to incorrect treatments, breaches of confidentiality, and increased anxiety for patients and staff. When a patient cannot accurately describe their symptoms, or cannot understand their diagnosis, the consequences can be serious
In the justice system, the House of Lords Public Services Committee published its report Lost in translation? in March 2025 was clear about the risks: “Equal access to justice is a fundamental principle of English and Welsh law. In order to access justice, individuals may sometimes require the services of interpreters and translators… it is crucial that the service is of a high standard, ensuring that individuals are not disadvantaged in the legal process due to language barriers.”
These are contexts where accuracy is not optional. Access to justice and patient safety depend on clear, reliable and effective communication.
The cost of getting it wrong
We all know that AI systems can produce confident-sounding output that is simply wrong – known as hallucination – and that GPT chatbots are programmed to offer answers that will please their users. On two separate occasions last month Claude.ai changed my surname. While I was quite amused by the idea of becoming Sara Tagliaferri there are times when these kinds of errors can be rather more problematic.
In June 2025, the High Court issued a stern warning to the UK legal profession after a pupil barrister cited five non-existent authorities and a solicitor submitted material containing 18 fabricated cases. A global database tracking such cases has identified over 700 instances worldwide. Dame Victoria Sharp, President of the King’s Bench Division, was clear: “Artificial intelligence is a tool that carries with it risks as well as opportunities. Its use must take place therefore with an appropriate degree of oversight, and within a regulatory framework that ensures compliance with well-established professional and ethical standards if public confidence in the administration of justice is to be maintained.”
Both lawyers were referred to their professional regulators.
The risks extend to translation work. Research published in late 2025 by Alibaba found hallucination rates in AI translation ranged from 33% to nearly 60% across leading models. Broader research has shown that AI safety protections weaken significantly in languages other than English, disproportionately affecting non-English speakers.
A pragmatic approach
Technology has a role to play, but the question is who leads. There is widespread discussion focussing on ‘human in the loop’ approaches, where machine translation is the primary tool and humans act in a supervisory role. This concerns many professionals because it reduces the translator's role to editing machine output, which can often be poor quality.
A more constructive approach is what translator Michael Bailey calls ‘expert in the lead.’ In this scenario skilled professionals remain in control, making informed decisions about how and when to deploy technology. This is not about rejecting tools -professional translators have used term bases and computer-assisted translation (CAT tools) for decades. It is about ensuring that expertise, judgement and accountability remain with the human professional.
An expert in the lead understands their subject matter, audience and purpose. And, perhaps more importantly, they take responsibility for the final output. This supports a view that ITI has long advocated: professional translators are required where quality, precision, cultural insight and brand consistency count.
Choosing a professional
In the UK, translation and interpreting are unregulated. Anyone can call themselves a translator, regardless of their qualifications, expertise or experience. Qualified ITI Members (MITI and FITI) are experienced professionals whose skills and experience have been verified. They also commit to abiding by our Code of Professional Conduct ensuring that they act professional and ethically. The ITI Directory provides a trusted source for finding professional translators and interpreters who can deliver the outcomes that their clients seek.
Advances in technology may have made translation and interpreting more accessible to more people, but they haven’t made the expertise of professional translators and interpreters any less valuable. In contexts where the cost of error is measured in patient safety, access to justice, or business reputation, professional translators and interpreters remain essential.
