Debate between leaders from business and research on the question how near we are to the point in time that machines will be better at translating most content, often referred to as the singularity. Session host: Jaap van der Meer (TAUS) Presenters and panelists are: Marcello Federico (FBK Trento), Jean Senellart (SYSTRAN), Renato Beninatto (Moravia), Alex Waibel (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) and Marco Trombetti (Translated).

1. Translation Technology Landscape
<<in an evolutionary perspective>>
www.taus.net

2. Evolution of the Translation Technology Landscape

3. Two hundred billion words translated by machines every
day
That would require hundred million translators
99% of the Total Translation Volume is MT

4. Singularity: Trends of 2030
“Would I recommend to my young children to choose human
translator as a profession? The answer is clearly "no". I would
try to redirect them to be a language- and culture consultant.
Transcreation and adaptation between cultures will remain
necessary for one more generation, until the differences
between earth's cultures have been reduced to minor deltas
that machines can bridge. It is not only the technology that
changes. Human behavior, thought and creativity also change
in an increasingly connected world.”
Chris Wendt, Microsoft:
The Future Does Not Need Translators*
Read the blog and comment

5. 1. How close are we to the point in time that computers will
be better at translating than humans?
2. What are the breakthroughs that we can expect in MT
research?
3. How is the translation profession going to change?
4. How should translators’ education adapt?
5. How is the localization industry going to change?
• The roles of LSPs.
• The services.
Questions for this Debate