Minako O’Hagan

The introduction of ChatGPT in late 2022 has shifted the ground for the prospect that various language-related tasks will be entrusted to AI. Language translation is marked as one key application of generative AI such as ChatGPT built with large language models workable across different task types.  From taking meeting minutes to composing song lyrics, across languages if requested, AI performs mundane or creative language tasks, seemingly in a human-like way.  Despite the risk of machine hallucination, bias and potential ethical issues, generative AI is fast gaining user buy-in and trust. The cynic in us finds this rather ironic, given the extent of distrust long endured by professional translators and interpreters who may even be called traitors. Nevertheless, the current AI-driven digital transformation is well underway with language-related tasks showcased at its core. This provides the translation studies community with an unprecedented opportunity to participate in the important debate over the role of humans by providing informed and well-balanced perspectives on their roles in enabling interlingual and intercultural communication. In a modest step toward this goal, I will explore the implication of the transformation from the perspective of translator agency, for the impact on user trust, creativity in translation, and ultimately, the question of ethics.