To mark the annual International Translation Day, the Faculty of Languages and Translation hosted a seminar titled "A New Era of Human-AI Collaborative Translation: The Future of Translation Education in the Age of AI." The event featured Professor Li Dechao, a renowned translation studies scholar from the Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as the keynote speaker. The lecture attracted a lively audience of students, faculty members and translation professionals from within and outside the university.

“International Translation Day is observed on September 30th to promote the vital role of the translation profession in bridging languages and cultures. Each year, the Faculty of Languages and Translation seizes this opportunity to organize academic events that foster exchange and development within the field. This seminar, as part of the Faculty's event series, focused on the opportunities and challenges that generative AI presents for the translation industry and education, making it highly relevant.

During his presentation, Professor Li Dechao provided an in-depth analysis of the current applications and limitations of generative AI in translation. He noted that while AI demonstrates remarkable efficiency in handling informational texts, it still falls short in translating expressive texts, such as a literary text, where a deep understanding of stylistic nuances, cultural connotations, and subtle emotions is required. This, he argued, highlights the irreplaceable core value of human translators. Consequently, he proposed that translation education should reform in three key directions: shifting from traditional language skill drills to cultivating deep textual analysis abilities; enhancing the study of literature and cultural background to tackle complex scenarios that AI struggles with; and systematically integrating post-editing training to strengthen students' ability to lead in human-AI collaborations. He also emphasized the need for increased cross-disciplinary cooperation to jointly develop smarter teaching tools adapted for diverse learning environments.

The seminar was characterized by its substantial content and unique insights, offering valuable perspectives on understanding and navigating the transformation of translation education in the AI era. It successfully fulfilled the spirit of International Translation Day by inspiring attendees to engage in multifaceted reflection on translation teaching and research. The Faculty of Languages and Translation will continue to build high-quality academic platforms dedicated to nurturing a new generation of language service professionals equipped with critical thinking, cultural literacy, and technological proficiency.