Professional translators aren't worried about Google's language-translating headphones

in #technology7 years ago

From Business Insider


In Douglas Adams' "Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy" series, a Babel Fish is a small yellow fish that will automatically translate any language in the universe for you if you shove it in your ear.

In the real world, of course, that's the job of interpreters and translators — tasked with the job of translating everything from corporate documents to geopolitical summits, helping out hapless tourists and the linguistically challenged around the world

But on Wednesday, Adams' fantastical idea took a step closer to reality when Google announced the "Pixel Buds" — a pair of wireless headphones that have Google Translate software built in, capable of translating 40 different languages as they're spoken to you.

So should professional translators and interpreters start getting freaking out about artificial intelligence (AI) stealing their jobs?

Business Insider asked a handful of people working in the field for their thoughts. The verdict: While the tech is exciting, and has obvious consumer applications, they're not worried.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/professional-translators-reactions-google-pixel-buds-2017-10

So has anyone here actually used this technology in the wild to facilitate a conversation?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below.


Follow @contentjunkie to stay up to date on more great posts like this one.

Sort:  

Of course they should start worrying about AI destroying their jobs although I am certain most will not give it a thought.

AI is going to disrupt so many industries yet few are paying attention. Google for all their ills, has totally taken over the translation world with google translate for text and now the buds for audio.

Technology is moving at an incredible pace.

This wonderful post has received a bellyrub 9.12 % upvote from @bellyrub thanks to this cool cat: @contentjunkie. My pops @zeartul is one of your top steemit witness, if you like my bellyrubs please go vote for him, if you love what he is doing vote for this comment as well.

This post has received a 18.18 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @contentjunkie.

Coin Marketplace

STEEM 0.20
TRX 0.14
JST 0.029
BTC 66603.07
ETH 3335.94
USDT 1.00
SBD 2.70