LATEST ISSUE
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anguage work is as old as human civilization itself, and language technology grew up right alongside it. Sure, it first expressed itself in the form of relatively simple tools — paints, brushes, chisels, styli, reed pens, and the like — but as humanity grew in population and ambition, so too did language technology. But in 5,000 years of recorded human history, there perhaps has never been a development more dramatic than the computer.
Computer science and computer translation matured together, with the Warren Weaver memorandum of 1949 spurring the earliest research. Since then, with the dawn of personal computing decades later, we’ve lived in a more connected and communicative world.
With the emergence of large language models in the 21st century, we find ourselves in the midst of another language technology revolution. But that doesn’t mean that other language technologies are obsolete. In the May edition of MultiLingual magazine, we explore the modern landscape of language technology and each subcategory’s advantages and disadvantages. From the ten best language technology products of the year to the influence of AI on global communications and AI’s ongoing struggle with Indian languages, you’ll find no shortage of insights from industry experts.
With so much technological evolution in 2024, it’s hard to imagine where we will be by 2026. But rest assured, MultiLingual will be there to cover each and every development along the way.
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UPFRONT
EVENT RECAP
Vamos Juntos 2025
Vamos Juntos 2025 was held in Mexico City. The two-day event, organized by JUNTOS, featured sessions on various topics including interpreting, LSP growth, artificial intelligence (AI), machine translation, sales strategies, and leadership.
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UNSCRIPTED
Ritual, Identity, and the Body
By Tim Brookes
Philippine cultural advocate Kristian Kabuay describes his artistic journey from the United States to the Philippines and back, and from graffiti to martial arts to batok, a traditional tattooing practice that incorporates body, identity, and language.
Perspectives
Voices Without Borders
How AI shapes global communication
By Helena Batt
TED has partnered with Panjaya to help make TED Talks accessible to a global audience. Using AI-powered video adaptation and expert-in-the-loop translators, the company is dubbing its TED Talks in multiple languages.
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Mapping Milestones in the AI Revolution
Three CEOs weigh in on the past, present, and future of language technology
Interview by MultiLingual Staff
Three CEOs in the language technology arena — Vasco Pedro of Unbabel, Marco Trombetti of Translated, and Jarek Kutylowski of DeepL — discuss the current state and future of the industry, touching on AI’s shifting role, the resulting shift in the business landscape, key trends, and future visions.
Language Technology
The Ten Best Language Technology Products of the Year
And why they might break the current pricing model
By Veronica Hylak and Bridget Hylak
The year’s best products span various use cases; some focus on speed, others on adaptability. Advocating for a pricing model that reflects the level of human involvement, the context, and the intended use of a translation, the authors classify these tools using a three-tiered system depending on whether the output is raw AI, creative, or highly technical.
Why Generative AI Still Struggles With Indian Languages
Although generative AI has made remarkable strides in language processing, its struggle with Indian dialects highlights the deep-rooted challenges of data scarcity, code-switching complexities, and low digital representation of regional languages.
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We Taught AI to Speak Human. Meet Lara.
Supported by Translated
20% higher quality, significantly faster translations, seamless scalability, and remarkable fluency: Translated’s Technology Evangelist Kirti Vashee explains how Lara empowers localization managers as strategic partners in global enterprise initiatives.
From Static Snapshot to Dynamic Database
Nimdzi’s Language Technology Radar
Supported by Nimdzi Insights
Yulia Akhulkova, a technology researcher at Nimdzi, discusses Nimdzi’s Language Technology Radar Report, an interactive catalog that tracks and organizes language technology companies and products. The report is an upgrade from Nimdzi’s previous report, the Language Technology Atlas, providing a dynamic database instead of a static snapshot.
A High-Stakes Moment for Localization Technology
Supported by Phrase
Phrase’s Simone Bohnenberger-Rich offers a pragmatic look at where localization technology stands and where it’s headed. She covers the critical shifts in tools, models, and mindsets that localization leaders need to understand, from the limits of large language models to the potential of agentic AI. Most importantly, she outlines the practical steps that teams can take to turn pressure into progress.
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