Welcome to LOCANUCU - Localization news you can use. In today's roundup, we dive into how major players like SAP are restructuring for the AI era, explore new tools from MachineTranslation.com and Supervertaler, and discuss the government's push into translation tech. We also touch on the human side of the industry, from career advice to the philosophical impact of living in a foreign language.
- Simon Hodgkins discusses the disruption and rewriting of the language industry state.
- Pulse article by Simon Hodgkins on how the language industry is being disrupted.
- Lucie Marlin shares insights on note-taking activities for consecutive interpreting.
- Christiana Dardanou updates on Fintech innovation, DORA, and PSD3 regulations.
- Master TCLOC article on reshaping SaaS localization with automation and risk-based thinking.
- Ricardo Campos Garcia shows an AI detector ironically flagging the Declaration of Independence.
- Gabriel Fairman reflects on the identity of living as a foreigner in a new land.
- Charles Campbell shares hot-off-the-press industry news updates.
- Apolline Descy shares sad news regarding the closure of a French publishing house.
- Stefan Huyghe predicts the fastest localization teams in 2026 will integrate AI fully.
- Stefan Huyghe writes on the choice between going full throttle or slowing down in localization.
- Introduction of "Supervertaler," a new AI-powered CAT tool on ProZ.
- Official website for the Supervertaler AI CAT tool.
- Slator reports on SAP restructuring their localization model for the AI era.
- Slator lists the top ten language AI use cases for 2025.
- ArXiv requires English version submissions despite AI translation capabilities.
- Slator analyzes NeurIPS 2025 trends relevant to the language industry.
- Smartling integrates Amazon Nova to deliver high-quality translations.
- Language Connections earns SDO certification for government translation work.
- Dolores Rojo Guinazu discusses what makes a fulfilling career in the language industry.
- Multilingual outlines five ways AI reshaped the translation industry in 2025.
- Blaise Hylak writes on understanding and mitigating language confusion in LLMs.
- Stavroula Sokoli discusses YouTube's multi-language audio feature for content.
- MachineTranslation.com redefines accuracy with a 22-engine rollout.
- DWP explores emerging translation technologies for multilingual citizen support.
Today we have a packed show covering everything from massive strategic shifts at global enterprises to the quirks of AI detection, and even some philosophical musings on what it means to live in a foreign tongue.
Let's kick things off with the big industry movers. SAP is making headlines with a major restructuring of their localization operating model for the AI era. According to a report from Slator, SAP’s program manager Xinzi Rao shared how the software giant is pivoting from a tiered language model to a risk-based strategy. They are harmonizing language experiences and leveraging AI to handle scale, which is a massive signal for where enterprise localization is heading in 2026.
Speaking of 2026, Stefan Huyghe took to LinkedIn to predict that the fastest localization teams next year will be the ones that stop treating AI as a side project and fully integrate it into their core operations. He discusses the concept of "Full Throttle Ahead" versus slowing down, suggesting that hesitation is now a strategic risk.
On the topic of industry disruption, Simon Hodgkins from CSA Research shared a discussion on the state of the language industry, highlighting how the sector isn't just evolving; it is effectively being disrupted and rewritten. This aligns with Slator’s release of the "Top Ten Language AI Use Cases for 2025," which showcases how diverse the application of these tools has become, from dubbing to live interpretation.
Now, let's talk technology. There is a lot of movement in the platform space. MachineTranslation.com has rolled out a significant update involving 22 different engines to redefine accuracy, aiming to give users a "consensus" view of translation quality. In a similar vein of innovation, we are seeing the emergence of "Supervertaler," an AI-powered CAT tool that promises to streamline the translation environment for professionals.
Meanwhile, Smartling has announced that it is delivering high-quality translations using Amazon Nova, further cementing the relationship between major cloud providers and localization management systems. And for those interested in the nitty-gritty of large language models, Blaise Hylak posted an insightful piece on understanding and mitigating language confusion in LLMs, a must-read for anyone debugging AI outputs.
But it’s not all just corporate software. The public sector is getting involved too. The UK's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is exploring emerging translation technologies to support multilingual citizens, a move reported by Public Technology that could set a precedent for government accessibility. Similarly, Language Connections has earned SDO certification for government translation, underscoring the high standards required for public sector work.
Turning to specific verticals, Christiana Dardanou shared updates on Fintech innovation, specifically touching on DORA and PSD3 regulations, which will have significant localization implications for the financial sector. On the SaaS front, a post from the University of Strasbourg’s Master TCLOC program discusses reshaping SaaS localization through automation and risk-based thinking, echoing that earlier SAP strategy we mentioned.
We also have some fascinating updates in media and audiovisual translation. Stavroula Sokoli highlighted YouTube’s multi-language audio features, which are changing the game for content creators reaching global audiences. And Slator noted that while AI translation is fine for many things, ArXiv still requires English version submissions, creating an interesting tension in academic publishing. They also covered NeurIPS 2025 trends, pointing to where the research puck is going.
On a lighter, or perhaps more ironic, note, Ricardo Campos Garcia shared a post showing an AI detector claiming the Declaration of Independence was AI-generated. It’s a hilarious reminder of the current limitations of detection tools.
Let’s shift gears to the human side of our industry. Gabriel Fairman wrote a touching piece titled "Foreigner who lives in me," exploring the identity shifts that come with living in a foreign land. It’s a beautiful reflection on the cultural aspect of our work. Language industry veteran Dolores Rojo Guinazu was featured in Multilingual, discussing what makes a fulfilling career in this field.
However, not all news is happy. Apolline Descy shared sad news for French readers regarding the closure of a publishing house, a somber reminder of the challenges in the traditional publishing landscape.
Finally, we have some practical tips and updates. Lucie Marlin shared a breakdown of note-taking activities for consecutive interpreting, great advice for practicing interpreters. Charles Campbell from TBO shared some "hot off the press" news regarding their latest developments, and Multilingual released a retrospective on the "Five Ways AI Reshaped the Translation Industry in 2025."
That wraps up today’s updates on LOCANUCU - Localization news you can use. We’ve covered the shift toward risk-based localization strategies, the explosion of AI use cases in 2025, and the vital role of human expertise in navigating these changes. Be sure to check out the links for more details on everything we discussed.