AI hasn’t reduced the need for language services. Instead, the translation industry has adapted to an explosive growth in volume and to automation. Along with that, the substance of translation services and the value the industry offers have changed too.
- AI-based services have become the industry standard. According to Slator, 80% of language service providers used machine translation and AI in 2025.
- A hybrid model has replaced translating from scratch. Around 75% of the text is produced by the machine, while the remaining, critical part of the work (refining and content checks) is done by an experienced specialist.
- The total volume of translated content has multiplied since the arrival of AI. Because creating content is easier than ever, companies need more localised content for different markets, and faster. See also Nimdzi’s 2026 forecast for growth over the next five years.
Translation services now centre on one key quality measure: human review and quality assurance. AI produces text in seconds, but ensuring brand messaging, style, cultural fit and legal accuracy still requires language experts.
The language services market hasn’t faded away; it’s going through the biggest structural change in its history. The value no longer lies in routinely translating words from one language to another by hand, but in managing and checking AI-driven content processes and adding cultural context.
What does this mean for buyers of language services?
Whether you order a translation from LSP or use an AI engine yourself, you’re no longer really paying per word. As a buyer, you want confidence that the text is correct and meets your expectations. AI delivers a raw translation in seconds and almost for free, so speed and price no longer set providers apart. The difference lies in what happens after machine translation: does someone read the text, how carefully do they go through it, and do they know your field?
Not all texts need the same amount of human work. Internal documentation or large volumes of product information can often be left to machine translation. Contracts, user manuals, marketing messages and anything that speaks directly to your customers need a more thorough check, because that’s where mistakes cost the most. With Lingwise, you decide.
