There was a time when interpreters were more than conduits for language. We were the human link that gave conversations life, adding tone, intent, emotion, and context. We didn’t just translate—we transformed. We stood at the heart of global diplomacy, legal clarity, and multilingual cooperation.

But that role is being rewritten.

Today, in more and more interpretation booths, the task has changed. Professionals are being asked not to interpret, but to monitor. Not to speak, but to correct. As machine-generated outputs take centre stage, interpreters are being told to “step in only if needed.” We’re no longer the lead voices—we’re the emergency backup.

This new reality is often framed with buzzwords:
“AI-assisted delivery.”
“Hybrid interpreting.”
“Human-in-the-loop assurance.”

Yet behind the jargon lies a sobering shift. What we’re doing isn’t interpretation anymore—it’s post-editing in real time. It’s linguistic crisis management. The artistry of speech is reduced to a reactive task, as interpreters wait silently for the machine to fail—then step in quietly, seamlessly, invisibly.

And here’s the irony:
The better we are at fixing errors, the more it appears that the AI is succeeding.
The smoother our corrections, the more our presence disappears.

This is not a hypothetical future. It is already happening. Platforms are testing this model. Contracts are shifting. Some interpreters are being asked to perform as digital custodians rather than creators of meaning.

So we must ask:
If the machine still depends on us, why are we being asked to vanish?
And if we accept this role without speaking up, are we helping or harming our profession?

This is not a rejection of AI. It’s a demand for dignity.

We are not placeholders.
We are not error-catchers.
We are interpreters—trained, experienced, human.
If AI truly needs us, it must also recognize us.

🗣️ What do you think about this emerging shift in our profession?
Are interpreters being sidelined, or are we evolving into something new?
Drop your thoughts in the comment box below—your perspective is essential to this conversation.

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