口譯之命運：博鰲AI同傳打響取代人類「第一槍」？
今年博鰲亞洲論壇首次嘗試使用AI機器同傳技術，引發關注，但由於很多翻譯呈現得並不理想，結果在業內引起爭議。一時間，有人批評譯文漏洞百出、準確率低，也有人力挺技術革新，稱這是翻譯技術勇敢邁出的第一步。
那麼，該如何看AI同傳技術首次「替代」人工譯員呢？這是AI替代人類的「第一槍」嗎？本期「天下·譯事」為大家提供一個觀察視角↓
Over the few past years, the demand for real-time interpreting services has increased considerably. One major contributing factor for this phenomenon is the globalization of business, as it has increased the number of opportunities for international trade and opened up new markets for businesses all around the world.
在過去幾年中，市場對實時口譯服務的需求大大增加。造成這一現象的一大原因是商業全球化，因為全球化增加了國際貿易的機會，並為世界各地的企業開闢了新的市場。
In order to stay competitive and meet this increase in demand for interpreting services, developers have been working on technological solutions to meet the requirements for high-quality simultaneous interpreting, but can technology really replace human beings with regards to interpreting services?
開發人員為了保持競爭力以及滿足口譯服務需求的增長，一直在研究技術解決方案，以滿足高品質同聲傳譯的要求，但技術真的能代替人類完成口譯服務嗎？
Advances in interpreting and translation technology
翻譯技術的進展
那麼，該如何看AI同傳技術首次「替代」人工譯員呢？這是AI替代人類的「第一槍」嗎？本期「天下·譯事」為大家提供一個觀察視角↓
Over the few past years, the demand for real-time interpreting services has increased considerably. One major contributing factor for this phenomenon is the globalization of business, as it has increased the number of opportunities for international trade and opened up new markets for businesses all around the world.
在過去幾年中，市場對實時口譯服務的需求大大增加。造成這一現象的一大原因是商業全球化，因為全球化增加了國際貿易的機會，並為世界各地的企業開闢了新的市場。
In order to stay competitive and meet this increase in demand for interpreting services, developers have been working on technological solutions to meet the requirements for high-quality simultaneous interpreting, but can technology really replace human beings with regards to interpreting services?
開發人員為了保持競爭力以及滿足口譯服務需求的增長，一直在研究技術解決方案，以滿足高品質同聲傳譯的要求，但技術真的能代替人類完成口譯服務嗎？
Advances in interpreting and translation technology
翻譯技術的進展
In 2008, Livescribe launched its first 「smart pen,」 which featured an infrared camera just below the writing tip to record the pen』s movements, and a built-in microphone to pick up ambient sound. Handwritten notes are then synchronised with the sound recordings using a digital time signature for playback on demand. The Smartpen offers a 『safety net』 of sound recording in consecutive interpretation settings where accuracy is key, such as healthcare and the justice system.
2008年Livescribe發布了首款「智能筆」，筆端下方的紅外攝像機記錄筆的動作，還有內置麥克風捕捉環境音，通過數字時值實現手寫文字與聲音記錄的同步，供需要時回放。智能筆為同傳的聲音記錄提供了安全保障，對同傳來說，準確是關鍵，如醫療和司法領域。
From a didactic standpoint, the decisions and ethical dilemmas interpreters face on a daily basis are countless and the potential for disagreement regarding those decisions is great. Technology Mediated Dispute Resolution (TMDR) processes can be particularly useful when misunderstandings and conflicts arise. It』s also thanks to tech that all work is documented and thus available for follow-up and review.
從教育的角度來看，口譯員每天面臨的決策和倫理困境是數不勝數的，在這些決策上存在分歧的可能性很大。當出現誤解和衝突時，技術介導的爭端解決進程特別有用。這也要歸功於技術，讓所有工作都被記錄下來，可供跟進和審查。
From our point of view, we believe that technology-assisted interpreting is more and more welcome. In its simplest application, smartphones, tablets, and online dictionaries are being put to good use, described by some as an 「infallible information assistant」 if personal knowledge comes up short. However, it should not be relied on completely, and human interpreters will always be required for certain nuances that may be almost impossible for even the most cutting edge technology to detect.
從我們的角度來看，我們認為技術輔助口譯越來越受歡迎。在其最簡單的應用中，智能手機、平板電腦和在線詞典正被充分利用，在知識欠缺的情況下，有人把它描述為「可靠的信息助手」。然而，人們不應該完全依賴這項技術，對於某些即使是最尖端的技術也幾乎不可能檢測到的細微差別來說，人類口譯員永遠是必需的。
Leading providers adopt technological solutions when the time is right in order to gain a competitive advantage. Of course, machine interpretation is still in its infancy, and who knows what the next wave of innovation will bring. For now, though, I think we can safely say that human interpreters are irreplaceable.
行業領導者在時機合適時採用技術解決方案，以獲得競爭優勢。當然，機器翻譯仍處於起步階段，誰知道下一波創新潮將會帶來什麼？但現在，我想我們可以有把握地說，人類口譯員是不可替代的。
（來源：譯世界）
