The first main session of the Translation Association Conference in Riyadh explored the rapid transformation of the translation industry, with artificial intelligence and the evolving role of human translators emerging as key themes.

Held under the theme “Translation in a Changing World,” the conference brings together academics, researchers and professionals to examine how technology is reshaping translation while exploring its role in cross-cultural communication.

AI Reshapes the Translation Industry

Discussions highlighted the growing capabilities of AI-powered translation tools and their potential to transform professional workflows, improve efficiency and accelerate the processing of multilingual content.

At the same time, the session emphasized the continuing importance of human translators in interpreting context, cultural meaning, intention and emotion.

Human Understanding Remains Central

Among the perspectives highlighted during the session was that of Guillaume Deneufbourg, President of the International Federation of Translators, who stressed the importance of the human role as AI tools continue to advance.

His remarks focused on the translator’s responsibility for preserving the “spirit” of a text and understanding the intention and emotions behind its meaning.

The discussion reflects one of the central questions facing the profession: how human expertise and rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies will interact as the translation industry evolves.