From networking to knowledge: Insights from ITI Conference 2024

The Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) Conference 2024 venue was the John McIntyre Conference Centre, part of Edinburgh University, nestled below the Arthur’s Seat hill. The conference theme, New world, new work, explored the changes in the profession, the market requirements and evolving technologies. Run as a hybrid event over two days, 282 attendees joined in-person and 120 joined virtually. Dedicated tracks for translation and interpreting were supplemented with special interest breakout groups, mainly regional, that were very well attended. Although ITI are UK-based I was surprised by the variety of countries and languages represented.

New world, new work and evolving specialisms
Sara Robertson, CEO, ITI talked in her keynote speech about the need for professional resilience, an entrepreneurial spirit and life-long learning and were well received. In summary ‘new world, new work, means a new you’. Amidst the technology and career survival topics many contributors spoke of the intricacies of specialist language or content areas, others on unique career paths, under-resourced languages, selling your service and finding new skills for modern times. Interesting sessions told of new translation expertise developed from personal experience such as dementia-friendly writing and accident-proofing your business.

AI – doesn’t speak your language and isn’t a translator
Of the many sessions covering AI and its impact on the translator, Ramon Inglada in his presentation AI literacy - From universities to the profession, reminded us, using translation and workflow examples, that like any technology AI’s a tool needing the linguist for the translation to make sense. He also discussed how and when to use AI and more importantly for translators how to ‘frame it’ in the context of their business. Is it just an enabler or something to sell as a service like ‘post-editing’ and if so, how.

AI – a huge statistical model that cannot read between the lines 
In Selling human tech skills in an AI world: Brainy things a robot cannot do, Carlos la Orden Tovar showed scenarios where AI can be useful and those where it is still a blunt instrument requiring the finesse of the translator, and generative AI works for some translation content and is unsuitable for others. Another aspect highlighted by both presenters is the shift of risk or liability from the work giver to the translator. Carlos reminded us that AI is a huge statistical model best used as part of a mix of potential suggestions. 

This is how we see our new Trados Copilot – AI Assistant that delivers generative translation suggestions, allowing you to log into your Large Language Model (LLM) account and add to your TM, termbase and MT as you see fit. Trados Copilot – AI Assistant will help orchestrate suggestions and the translator’s skill will produce the beautiful symphony that is the flowing translated piece.

40th anniversary of Trados
As event sponsors, we were delighted to present on our celebration of the four decades of Trados translation software. Frances Pearn-Rowe, Sales Director, RWS, reviewed the various incarnations of Trados, its evolution serving localization professionals in changing times. The longevity of Trados, plus the multitude of applications in many fields of translation and roles across the localization supply chain, has created a tool that is truly awesome in its capabilities leading the industry with innovations designed to make translators’ lives easier and more profitable. 

In summary
There was a palpable burst of enthusiasm at the event as people met old friends and made new ones. What strikes me is how many loyal returners there were, in person, at times being more like a family re-union than a professional gathering. Events like this remind you that the translation industry is niche and a tight community. Many attendees are lone workers, working remotely from colleagues and clients. When I asked translators why they attended – it’s quite an investment of time and expense – many said that they wanted to keep up with the latest industry developments but many also said that the event helped to make them feel more motivated about a career for which they have a passion and this is what we all need.  It's summed up nicely in this extract from a LinkedIn post by freelance translator, Isabel Stainsby, ‘I'm still coming down from #ITIconf2024 – an amazing couple of days, with so much to digest and reflect on. But the best thing about it wasn't the talks, wonderful though they all were, it was the new connections I made, and the older ones that I strengthened and deepened.’  Kudos to Caroline Wells and all the team at the ITI for an informative, enjoyable and well-run event.