Language expert warns against the risk of free translation tools for high stakes tasks

The convenience of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine translation tools have revolutionized how we communicate across languages.  

AI has undoubtedly made language barriers more manageable in everyday conversations. Still, when it comes to translating legal documents, contracts, or sensitive business materials, relying solely on automated tools can lead to unintended - and unwanted - consequences.  

One of the earliest examples of the pitfalls of AI-generated translation came about in 2017, when an AI-powered translation engine led to the arrest of an innocent man near Jerusalem on suspicion of plotting an attack, due to a mistranslated social media post he had made earlier that day. 

The post featured a picture of him leaning against a bulldozer at a construction site, accompanied by the caption "yusbihuhum," which translates - or should - to "good morning." 

The artificial intelligence translation service erroneously rendered the "good morning" message as "hurt them" in English and "attack them" in Hebrew. 

The man was taken into custody and questioned under suspicion of planning to use the bulldozer in an attack, until authorities realized the misunderstanding. The social media platform issued a public apology shortly thereafter. 

While AI can provide a quick solution for informal translation tasks, it lacks the nuanced understanding of context, cultural intricacies, and common sense is required for accurate and reliable translations in professional settings, believes one expert. 

Salvador Ordorica is a first-generation Mexican American multilinguist. He is fluent in English, French, and Spanish and is learning Mandarin Chinese and Portuguese. He’s also the founder of The Spanish Group, a leading provider of certified on-demand translation services in more than 90 languages. His experience underscores the importance of human involvement in translation processes.  

He believes that while AI may offer convenience for low stakes work, it cannot replace the expertise and attention to detail provided by human translators. Ordorica stresses that "when it comes to important documents, precision and accuracy are paramount. AI simply cannot replicate the depth of understanding and contextual knowledge that human translators possess." 

Ordorica is right to stress the importance of nuance and accuracy. To understand the difference, we can look to healthcare for examples of how badly things could go wrong. In the USA, federal guidelines recommend that hospitals and healthcare organizations offer professional interpreters and translators for patients who don't speak English. 

However, despite these guidelines, many healthcare facilities are still resorting to free services to communicate with non-English speaking patients. Although free translation tools have shown improvement over time, recent research indicates that this approach still has its shortcomings. 

Currently, the app boasts around 90% accuracy for Spanish and 80-90% accuracy for languages such as Tagalog, Korean, and Chinese. While these figures may seem decent, they still leave room for error. In situations where miscommunication can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, any level of inaccuracy is concerning. 

The study also found a notable decline in accuracy for less common languages, likely due to the limited reference material available for the AI to learn from. For instance, Farsi achieved only 67% accuracy, while Armenian fared even worse at just 55%. 

An example provided in the study highlights the potential dangers of relying solely on machine translation: 

Original English: You can take over-the-counter ibuprofen as needed for pain. 

Translated: You may take an anti-tank missile as much as you need for pain. 

The pitfalls of relying solely on AI for important translations become particularly evident in legal matters too. Legal documents often contain complex language and intricate nuances that require careful interpretation. Sometimes, there are no direct translations. And misinterpretations or inaccuracies in legal translations can have severe consequences, ranging from legal disputes to financial losses. 

Inadequate translations can also lead to misunderstandings, jeopardize contractual agreements, or even result in the rejection of important legal applications, such as citizenship or residency requests. 

Furthermore, using uncertified or unregulated translation services can pose significant risks. Many individuals, unaware of the potential repercussions, turn to AI or non-professional translators for their translation needs. However, without proper certification and quality assurance measures, these translations may not meet the rigorous standards required for legal validity or official documentation. 

Ordorica emphasizes the importance of using reputable, certified translation services for any legal or business-related translations. He says that "reliable translation services undergo rigorous quality control processes and employ skilled linguists who specialize in specific industries and legal terminology."  

In immigration and citizenship applications, the consequences of inadequate translations can be particularly dire. Citizenship applications often require the submission of various documents, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and legal affidavits, all of which must be accurately translated into the official language of the receiving country. Mistakes or discrepancies in these translations can result in delays, rejections, or even legal complications, impeding individuals' paths to citizenship or residency. 

In 2020, Uma Mirkhail, who works as a crisis translator specializing in Afghan languages, saw firsthand how a bad translation can cause serious problems. 

Uma was helping a Pashto-speaking refugee who had fled Afghanistan. The refugee's request for asylum in the United States was rejected because her written application didn't match what she said during her initial interviews. 

During those interviews, the refugee initially said she went through a particular event alone. But the written statement made it seem like there were other people with her at the time. That difference was enough for a judge to turn down her asylum request. 

After looking over the documents, Uma saw the problem: The automated translation tool that had been used had mixed up the pronouns, changing "I" to "we" in the woman's statement. A minor error with major consequences. 

Individuals and businesses who need a reliable translation should see certified services as an investment in quality. In matters of legal and business documentation, precision and accuracy are non-negotiable. Trusting reputable translation services gives you peace of mind and safeguards against potential pitfalls.