Poll: AI clears the clutter, but true translation requires human artistry. Do you agree?
Autor da sequência: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
STAFF DO SÍTIO
Jul 30, 2025

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "AI clears the clutter, but true translation requires human artistry. Do you agree?".

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Lieven Malaise
Lieven Malaise  Identity Verified
Bélgica
Local time: 03:14
Membro (2020)
Francês para Holandês
+ ...
Business translation Jul 30, 2025

I'm a business translator, which has nothing to do with artistry, imo. But you can't have guaranteed accurate translations without human intervention. So AI/MT remains what it is for now: a helpful tool, to be used with care by professionals that know what they are doing.

Luca Adie
Edith van der Have
Oscar Núñez Alfaro
Novian Cahyadi (X)
Luis M. Sosa
Antonio Contreras
Dongwoo Lee
 
Lingua 5B
Lingua 5B  Identity Verified
Bósnia e Herzegovina
Local time: 03:14
Inglês para Francês
+ ...
AI creates the clutter Jul 30, 2025

AI creates the clutter and extends the whole process endlessly - resulting in an endless number of human work hours.

Ines Radionovas-Lagoutte, PhD
Liena V.
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Josephine Cassar
Peter Simon
writeaway
Ester Vidal
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
Itália
Local time: 03:14
Inglês para Alemão
+ ...
Uh? Jul 30, 2025

What clutter is it clearing in translation?

Peter Simon
writeaway
Ona Stankevičiūtė
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Liena V.
Jennifer Levey
Philip Lees
 
Liena V.
Liena V.  Identity Verified
Letónia
Local time: 04:14
Membro (2014)
Francês para Letão
+ ...
clutter Jul 30, 2025

Zea_Mays wrote:

What clutter is it clearing in translation?


The clutter of facts and accuracy, I'm assuming.
backflip


Zea_Mays
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Yaotl Altan
Philip Lees
P.L.F. Persi (X)
Helen Genevier
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Edith van der Have
Edith van der Have
Holanda
Local time: 03:14
Membro (2016)
Inglês para Holandês
+ ...
human professionalism Jul 30, 2025

IMO, professional translation requires skill rather than artistry; in any case, I don't consider myself an artist. AI is one of the assets in my toolbox, nothing more and nothing less. By itself, it's not enough to get a decent translation that can be used for business purposes, unless just getting the gist of it is all that is needed.

Novian Cahyadi (X)
Angie Garbarino
Lieven Malaise
Philip Lees
Rachel Waddington
 
Angie Garbarino
Angie Garbarino  Identity Verified
Local time: 03:14
Membro (2003)
Inglês para Italiano
+ ...
Yes Jul 30, 2025

Edith van der Have wrote:

IMO, professional translation requires skill rather than artistry; in any case, I don't consider myself an artist. AI is one of the assets in my toolbox, nothing more and nothing less. By itself, it's not enough to get a decent translation that can be used for business purposes, unless just getting the gist of it is all that is needed.


Skills and a bit of talent, no art.


Lieven Malaise
Rachel Waddington
Lija Lija
 
Mario Chávez
Mario Chávez
Estados Unidos da América
Local time: 21:14
Inglês para Espanhol
+ ...
AI generates clutter Jul 30, 2025

I'm rolling my eyes so much at the poll's statement that I fear I'll suffer from exophthalmos.


Zea_Mays wrote:

What clutter is it clearing in translation?


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Zea_Mays
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Zea_Mays
Zea_Mays  Identity Verified
Itália
Local time: 03:14
Inglês para Alemão
+ ...
🤣 Jul 30, 2025

Liena Vijupe wrote:

Zea_Mays wrote:

What clutter is it clearing in translation?


The clutter of facts and accuracy, I'm assuming.
backflip


Made my day! 😹

John Backflip vs. William Frontflip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxCd99nQ8bo
(Just check the lyrics online...)


Liena V.
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Daryo
Daryo
Local time: 02:14
Sérvio para Inglês
+ ...
No such thing as bad publicity? Jul 30, 2025

Would that be by any chance the logic in the never ending poll questions about and around AI?

Questions often based on some wishful thinking rather than on facts - like the idea that 'AI clears the clutter'.

IF this novel concept of 'clutter' is supposed to mean 'translations saturated with low-yield never ending verbosity' AI has definitely taken over from humans who specialised in that kind of 'translation' by creating clutter ways more 'efficiently' that any h
... See more
Would that be by any chance the logic in the never ending poll questions about and around AI?

Questions often based on some wishful thinking rather than on facts - like the idea that 'AI clears the clutter'.

IF this novel concept of 'clutter' is supposed to mean 'translations saturated with low-yield never ending verbosity' AI has definitely taken over from humans who specialised in that kind of 'translation' by creating clutter ways more 'efficiently' that any human beginner could.

On the other hand, if 'clearing the clutter' is supposed to mean that AI can **supposedly on its own** select from a mountain of information which parts are relevant/to be trusted and which are 'clutter' (i.e. to be ignored as surplus to requirement), then THAT is more than 'wishful thinking' - it's bordering on dangerous delusion!

Not to go into long digressions, just look at the concept of GIGO (Garbage In Garbage Out).
Collapse


Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
TanjaO
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Grécia
Local time: 04:14
Grego para Inglês
AI asking Jul 31, 2025

Lieven Malaise wrote:

AI/MT remains what it is for now: a helpful tool, to be used with care by professionals that know what they are doing.

This. I have no idea what "clears the clutter" is supposed to mean in this context. Or indeed "artistry".

Is this a trick question that was itself drafted by an AI?


Lieven Malaise
Zea_Mays
 
Alex Lichanow
Alex Lichanow
Alemanha
Local time: 03:14
Inglês para Alemão
+ ...
Empty AI marketing phrases Jul 31, 2025

Like others have asked, what is "clears the clutter" even supposed to mean? Could "Pro"Z please return to being professional instead of regurgitating mindless, braindead AI propaganda phrases? They just create clutter.

Zea_Mays
Christine Andersen
P.L.F. Persi (X)
Daryo
Maria Laura Curzi
 
Rachel Waddington
Rachel Waddington  Identity Verified
Reino Unido
Local time: 02:14
Holandês para Inglês
+ ...
I assumed ... Jul 31, 2025

... that 'clears the clutter' meant clears out all the mediocre translators, which I was all ready to be outraged about. But, having read the thread I realise that I have no idea what it is supposed to mean.

Zea_Mays
P.L.F. Persi (X)
Helen Genevier
 
Maria Laura Curzi
Maria Laura Curzi  Identity Verified
Argentina
Local time: 22:14
Inglês para Espanhol
+ ...
Hallucinations Aug 6, 2025

I wonder how do AI hallucinations “clear the clutter”?

AI hyping is creating fake statements.


Alex Lichanow
 
Alex Lichanow
Alex Lichanow
Alemanha
Local time: 03:14
Inglês para Alemão
+ ...
Mediocre translators Aug 12, 2025

Rachel Waddington wrote:

... that 'clears the clutter' meant clears out all the mediocre translators, which I was all ready to be outraged about. But, having read the thread I realise that I have no idea what it is supposed to mean.


In an ideal world, AI would do just that: rid the market of sub-par translators while underscoring the skills and value of the really professional ones.
Yet alas, in a world ruled by the ruthless ilk of Altman, Musk, Zuckerberg and co., it only serves to strengthen the bad translators (because it does, objectively, generate better translations) while slowly ousting more and more professionals from the industry due to declining rates.


Baran Keki
Maria Laura Curzi
Daryo
Philippe Etienne
Paulo Roberto
 


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Poll: AI clears the clutter, but true translation requires human artistry. Do you agree?






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