AI is a description by induction, human intelligence is an interpretation by deduction (Noam Chomsky)
Human Interpreting versus AI Interpreting at the CC European Summit in Amsterdam, November 2024
Mastervoice demonstrated AI and human interpreting at the European Leadership Summit in Amsterdam, organized by Corporate Connections on 29 November 2024. This event hosted delegates from twelve countries, including Belgium, The Netherlands, France, Canada, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, and Japan. During the plenary sessions, automated interpreting (AI) was distributed to smartphones to translate from English into Dutch, French (France & Canada), Portuguese, German, Turkish, and Japanese. For the interactive roundtables, a combination of AI and human interpreting was demonstrated.
The results highlighted the strengths and limitations of both solutions. AI interpreting was well-received during the plenary sessions, serving as an effective virtual assistant for speech interpretation and translated captions.
However, in the interactive roundtable sessions, AI was perceived as disruptive to the natural communication flow. Conversely, the roundtable sessions supported by human interpreting between Dutch, French, German, and English enabled a seamless flow of conversation, maintaining a high degree of interactivity and participation among delegates.
In conclusion, AI interpreting is well-suited for unidirectional speeches and presentations, enhancing accessibility and efficiency. However, human interpreting remains superior in interactive dialogues that are inherently human, dynamic, emotional, dialectic and sometimes a bit chaotic.
At the same time, we believe AI can assist conference interpreters to enhance their performance while focusing on their core skill: human interpretation where it really matters.Curious about AI and its use cases versus human interpreting? Join us on our journey to explore new opportunities for global speakers, meeting planners and event organisers to use human or automated interpreting for the right audience and the right purpose. Contact us here if you want to know more.
