General document translation
Translator · Written Translation (General)
“General document translation” (Translator) was largely replaced by AI in 2024, after AI entered in 2016.
AI enters
2016
Largely replaced
2024
Replacement progress
100%
Technology / key factor
Neural MT → LLMs
What this task is
Translating contracts, manuals, business emails and reports, conveying the original meaning accurately while making the text read naturally to someone in the target language.
How AI replaces it
From 2016, neural machine translation made output far more fluent, and large language models later added context and tone handling across long documents. By 2024 first-pass translation of general documents was mainly done by machines.
What stays human
Translators now mostly review machine output and assure quality, concentrating on legally binding, highly technical or otherwise high-stakes texts where someone must sign off.