Welcome to the LOCANUCU blog, your ultimate destination for staying informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of localization and translation. In today's roundup for July 9, 2025, we're diving into the latest industry developments, from major AI breakthroughs and new platform launches to critical discussions on quality and ethics in localization. We'll be covering Welocalize's recent award, Smartcat's new AI agents, Amazon's and Crunchyroll's ventures into AI-powered localization, TransPerfect's new interpretation app, and much more.
- Welocalize's AILQA has been awarded "Natural Language Recognition Solution of the Year" in the 2025 AI Breakthrough Awards.
- AILQA uses LLMs to identify translation errors based on the MQM error typology.
- Smartcat has launched expert-enabled AI Agents to automate the global content lifecycle.
- Smartcat's AI Agents can be customized with a no-code builder for various use cases.
- Amazon Prime Video is testing AI-aided dubbing for licensed titles.
- The initial AI dubbing pilot includes 12 titles in English and Latin American Spanish.
- Crunchyroll accidentally revealed its use of AI for subtitling, showing "ChatGPT said:" in German subtitles.
- Crunchyroll has blamed a third-party vendor for the AI subtitle issue.
- TransPerfect has launched a new mobile app for on-demand interpretation services.
- The TransPerfect app supports over 200 languages, including ASL, for video and audio interpretation.
- Nimdzi offers a 90-day framework for localization teams to navigate reorganizations.
- Stanford University research highlights the risks of using AI for legal translation without human oversight.
- AI struggles with legal terminology, potentially leading to serious mistranslations.
- The Localization Academy provides practical online courses for various localization roles.
- Comactiva provides guidance on migrating to an AI-first translation workflow.
- Industry expert Renato Beninatto encourages using the summer for strategic planning and learning.
- A video by Hy-Lak emphasizes language learning as a "superpower" for personal and professional growth.
- The Hy-Lak video showcases case studies of individuals who advanced their careers by learning new languages.
- Agnė Vaičienė discusses the importance of a clear localization strategy for global marketing success.
- Comactiva suggests using the summer to learn more about AI in translation.
In today's news, the industry is buzzing with advancements in AI-driven solutions. Welocalize has earned recognition for its AI-powered linguistic quality assurance tool. Their patent-pending AILQA has been named the "Natural Language Recognition Solution of the Year" at the 8th annual AI Breakthrough Awards. This tool utilizes large language models to identify translation errors, following the industry-standard MQM error typology, aiming to increase efficiency by focusing human reviewers' attention on potential errors.
In a similar vein, Smartcat has launched its new expert-enabled AI Agents. These agents are designed to automate the entire global content lifecycle, from creation to localization. The platform allows for the creation of customized AI agents through a no-code builder, which can be tailored to various content and communication use cases. The goal is to help businesses scale globally with greater speed and consistency.
On the streaming front, Amazon is expanding its use of AI in localization. The company is testing AI-aided dubbing on its Prime Video service for licensed titles that previously lacked dubbing. The initial pilot includes 12 titles with dubbing in English and Latin American Spanish, using a hybrid approach that combines AI with human quality control.
However, the use of AI in subtitling has sparked some controversy. Anime streaming giant Crunchyroll inadvertently revealed its use of AI for subtitle translation. German subtitles for a new series included the text "ChatGPT said:", leading to criticism from subscribers. The company has since stated that a third-party vendor employed AI-generated subtitles in violation of their agreement and that they are investigating the matter.
Turning to interpretation services, TransPerfect has launched a new mobile app designed to provide on-demand access to live interpreters. The app supports over 200 languages, including American Sign Language, and offers both video and audio interpretation. This development aims to make professional interpretation more accessible across various industries, including healthcare, legal, and retail.
For those navigating organizational changes, a recent article from Nimdzi provides a framework for localization teams to thrive during reorganizations. The article suggests a 90-day plan focused on intelligence gathering, strategic positioning, and value demonstration to ensure that localization remains a key strategic asset, even under new leadership.
The intersection of AI, machine translation, and the legal field is also a topic of discussion. Research from Stanford University highlights both the potential and the pitfalls of using AI for language access in legal settings. While machine translation can be useful for translating documents and forms, it often struggles with the nuances of legal terminology, which can lead to significant mistranslations. The research underscores the critical need for human oversight, national standards, and improved training data for legal AI.
In educational news, the Localization Academy is offering a range of online courses for those looking to enter or advance in the localization industry. The courses cover roles such as Localization Project Manager, Localization Engineer, and Language Quality Manager, with a focus on practical, hands-on assignments.
For language service providers, Comactiva has shared insights on migrating translation workflows to an AI-first model. Their approach focuses on automating a significant portion of translation tasks to cut manual effort and enhance quality through the use of curated language data. They emphasize the importance of strategically segmenting content to determine what to automate, what to review, and what to translate manually.
Finally, a video from Hy-Lak highlights the power of language learning as a "human superpower." The video shares stories of individuals who transformed their careers and personal lives by mastering new languages, emphasizing that language acquisition builds confidence and enhances global connections.
That's a wrap on our news roundup for July 9, 2025. We've covered the big stories from Welocalize, Smartcat, Amazon, Crunchyroll, and TransPerfect, and explored key insights on navigating reorganizations from Nimdzi and the legal implications of AI from Stanford University. We also highlighted learning opportunities from the Localization Academy and Comactiva, and the inspiring message on language learning from Hy-Lak. Stay tuned to the LOCANUCU blog for more actionable insights and the latest trends to help you thrive in a globalized marketplace.