This episode of the Planet Money podcast delves into how AI is transforming the translation job market, challenging popular beliefs. It features an interview with Luis von Ahn, CEO of Duolingo, who shares insights on the evolving translation landscape driven by AI. While AI is enhancing translation capabilities, the demand for human translators remains high due to AI's limitations in understanding context and the growing need for translation services. Von Ahn points out that while Duolingo has reduced its dependence on human translators for certain tasks, it hasn’t laid off staff. Instead, the company is leveraging AI to boost productivity and tackle new challenges. The key takeaway is that AI complements rather than replaces human translators, fostering a collaborative human-AI dynamic.
