Loekalization Blog

Let me start with a truth bomb: AI is not the problem. We are. The biggest threat to the translation industry right now isn’t machines taking over, it’s the human fear of change and the obsession with staying comfortable. AI can’t steal our jobs—but if we don’t get our act together, we’re going to let it steal our dignity. Let’s talk about why this fear-driven narrative is not just wrong, but dangerous for the future of translation.

The Doom-and-Gloom Club: Get Over It

In a recent opinion piece two veteran translators who’ve decided to leave the field warn us that AI is going to destroy translation. They’re out here preaching about the death of the industry, telling everyone that AI is here to kill us all. But here’s the thing: Neither of them is even translating anymore. One’s out there giving seminars on autism, the other’s eyeing a new career in elderly care. And they’re out here lecturing us on the future of translation?

Let’s get real: If you’re not in the industry anymore, you don’t get to dictate its future. Your story is over. But here’s the best part: they’re not even trying to adapt to the future. They’ve checked out. They’re the ones sitting on the sidelines, spreading fear, while the rest of us are in the trenches doing the hard work, adapting, and moving forward. The real question is: Why are we still listening to these voices?

The Real Problem: Fear, Not AI

The biggest problem with this kind of fear-based rhetoric is that it creates panic. When you constantly tell people that the industry is dead, guess what? You start to see the self-fulfilling prophecy unfold. Clients get scared. New translators hesitate to enter the field. It erodes the confidence of both professionals and the people who rely on them. You think it’s just a pessimistic opinion? No—it’s actively hurting the industry by spreading fear, discouraging newcomers, and making the profession seem like a sinking ship.

Instead of focusing on what’s wrong, let’s talk about what’s right. The translation industry isn’t disappearing. And this is why.

Vibe Coding vs. Vibe Translating: The Exact Same Trap

Let’s talk about vibe coding. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s the latest trend in tech startups where AI writes the code for you based on natural language prompts. Sounds awesome, right? Who wouldn’t want to code without actually coding? But here’s the thing: It’s a trap.

The same thing is happening in translation, but we’re calling it vibe translating. Here’s the deal: vibe coders (and vibe translators) aren’t actually writing their own code or translating their own texts. They’re just letting AI spit something out and calling it good enough. It’s like going to a chef’s kitchen, tossing in some random ingredients, and hoping for the best, without understanding the recipe.

1. Lack of Deep Understanding: When vibe coders use AI, they don’t actually understand the code it’s generating. They just get the result and move on. Same with vibe translating: You don’t understand the nuances, the context, the tone. And when the AI inevitably messes up—because it will—you won’t know how to fix it. You’re not building the foundation; you’re just hoping the house stands.
2. Debugging and Maintenance Nightmares: Vibe coding has a huge problem: when things break, no one knows how to fix them. And the same thing is happening in vibe translation. AI might be able to pump out translations, but when something goes wrong, good luck tracing the error back to its source. It’s like buying a car that works fine for a few months, but then when the engine blows, you have no idea what went wrong or how to fix it.
3. Scalability? Forget It: Vibe coding works well for quick prototypes, but when the project grows, it falls apart. Same with vibe translating. AI can handle a small project, but as complexity increases, the rigidity of its output becomes a massive limitation. You’ll find yourself trying to apply AI-generated translations to a long-term, highly complex project, and it won’t work. Why? Because it doesn’t understand the bigger picture. AI doesn’t get culture. It doesn’t get context. It just follows patterns. And patterns don’t handle nuance.
4. Security, Quality, and the “Good Enough” Trap: AI can introduce security risks and inefficient patterns. With vibe translating, you’re basically hoping AI doesn’t mess up when it comes to things like pun translation, cultural context, or stylistic consistency. And trust me, it will mess up. It always does. You know who will catch those mistakes? You. If you don’t, it’s your reputation on the line. AI can’t protect that.

Why Are These People Still Admins of a 4000-Member Translator Group?

Now, here’s a question that’s been bugging me: Why are these people, who have left the industry, still admins of a huge Facebook group with over 4000 members of active translators? And why are they using that influence to spread doom and gloom about an industry they don’t even work in anymore? Seriously, how is this the narrative that keeps getting picked up by the media? Why do we always hear their story—the one of people who have checked out—while the stories of successful translators who are thriving go unnoticed?

Why are we giving these voices the loudest megaphone? Why are we letting people who are no longer active in the industry define what it looks like for the rest of us? It’s time to take back the narrative.

Take Control: We’re Not Letting AI Define Us

Here’s the truth: We are the ones in charge. Whether you’re embracing AI or going 100% human, the point is that we, as translators, should always be in control of the process. AI can assist, but it should never be in charge. We must stay at the helm, ensuring that the final product is worthy of the title “human translation.”

If you’re still handling your translations the old-fashioned way, awesome. If you’re using AI to make your work faster and more efficient, great. But the one thing we must all agree on is that we are the ones in control. AI is a tool—and a tool only works as well as the person using it. We must stay at the helm, ensuring that the final product is worthy of the title “human translation.”

Real-Life Examples of AI Messing Up in Translation

If you think AI is flawless, let me hit you with a couple of real-life examples of what happens when we get lazy with our AI “assistants”:

1. “Tigers” translated as “Tits”: In a children’s game. Yep, you heard me right. AI translated “tigers” as “tits.” Imagine that error getting through. Good luck explaining that to a parent.
2. “Inclusive” translated as “Exclusive”: In a contract. You know, those tiny documents that legally bind companies and individuals? Imagine the mess that could cause. Would you want your lawyer using AI that’s making this kind of mistake? No? Well, that’s AI working for you unchecked.

These are just two examples from yesterday. The stakes are real—and this is the kind of thing that happens when you let AI run wild without proper oversight. It might be quick, but when it goes wrong, the cost can be devastating.