Localization News 30/09/2025: SAFE AI Task Force, Acrolinx, WeLocalize...


Welcome to the LOCANUCU blog, your source for localization news you can actually use. Today, September 30th, we're not only bringing you the latest industry updates but also taking a moment to celebrate International Translation Day and the incredible professionals who bridge communication gaps worldwide. In this roundup, we're covering major developments in AI evaluation with the new toolkit from the SAFE AI Task Force, a significant $27 million funding round and rebranding for Acrolinx, and strategic partnerships shaping the future of voice AI and author services. We'll also look at WeLocalize's award-nominated technology and the evolving role of the localization project manager.

Today is a special day for our industry; it's International Translation Day. On this day, we celebrate the crucial role of language professionals in connecting cultures, facilitating communication, and fostering global understanding. From translators and interpreters to terminologists and project managers, your work breaks down barriers every single day. We see this spirit reflected in personal stories, like the one shared by Diego Cresceri about how a choice made at 14 shaped a lifelong passion for language, and in broader initiatives like Saudi Arabia's vision for international translation. So, a sincere thank you to all the language professionals listening for your dedication and expertise.

Now for the day's news. A significant development in the AI space comes from the SAFE AI Task Force, which has released an evaluation toolkit for AI interpreting solutions. This toolkit is designed to provide a standardized framework for assessing the performance and reliability of AI-driven interpreting technologies, a critical step as these tools become more prevalent in the market.

In corporate news, Acrolinx has announced a major rebranding to Markup.ai, alongside securing $27 million in a new financing round. The company states this move reflects its sharpened focus on AI-powered content governance and optimization solutions for enterprise clients. In other rebranding news, Piedmont Global is now operating under the new name Strategic Globalization Organization, a change intended to better represent its comprehensive approach to global content strategy.

Several strategic partnerships have also been announced. GlobeScribe, a provider of translation and localization services for authors, has formed an affiliate partnership with Book Brush, a platform for creating author marketing materials. This collaboration aims to offer authors a more streamlined process for creating and promoting their books globally. Elsewhere, Hyperfusion and CAMB.AI are partnering to advance Voice AI solutions specifically for the Middle East and North Africa region, aiming to deliver high-quality, culturally relevant voice generation and dubbing.

On the mergers and acquisitions front, it has been confirmed that Rev, a major provider of speech-to-text services, has acquired cielo24, a company known for its video captioning and transcription solutions. This move consolidates Rev's position in the media accessibility and transcription market.

Turning to platform developments, WeLocalize has received recognition for its patented AIQE technology, which has been named a finalist in the 2025 A.I. Awards. This highlights the growing investment by language service providers in proprietary AI to enhance quality and efficiency. Interprefy has also launched Interprefy Agent, a new solution designed to bring real-time multilingual capabilities to virtual meetings, addressing the ongoing need for seamless communication in global remote work environments.

The conversation around the role of localization professionals continues to evolve. One article this week highlights the localization project manager as an "overlooked orchestrator," arguing for a reinvention of the role to that of a strategic content partner rather than just a logistical coordinator, a sentiment echoed by many in the industry. Meanwhile, creative localization and brand guardianship in the age of AI were central topics in a discussion featuring leaders from Jellyfish and Bureau Works, who emphasized the irreplaceable value of human oversight in maintaining brand integrity across cultures.

In hardware and integrated technology, Google Pixel has been recognized for its advanced on-device AI and translation capabilities, which continue to push the boundaries of real-time communication. This is part of a broader trend of embedding translation directly into consumer devices. We're also seeing this in wearables like the Buddi AI translator and experimental smart glasses with AI translation features, demonstrating a clear demand for instant, on-the-go language support.

Finally, for those looking to contribute to industry knowledge, the GenAI in Localization conference has issued a call for papers for its online event scheduled for December 2025. And tcworld is inviting professionals to share their stories about why they love technical communication. It's a great opportunity to share expertise and shape the future of our field.

That's a wrap on today's news. We've journeyed through key industry events, from celebrating the people at the heart of our field on International Translation Day to analyzing the technologies that are reshaping it. We covered Acrolinx's transformation into Markup.ai with a hefty new investment, the release of a crucial AI interpreting evaluation toolkit by the SAFE AI Task Force, and strategic moves by companies like Rev, WeLocalize, and Piedmont Global. The conversation continues around the strategic importance of human expertise in an AI-driven world. Thanks for reading this edition from LOCANUCU, where we provide the knowledge you need to stay ahead in the world of localization.

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