The week in translation: new technologies, k-pop and mistranslation
Last week, the translation industry saw interesting news across various sectors – from AI-powered breakthroughs to policy shifts and K-pop translation errors. Here’s what you need to know.
Apple brings live translation to AirPods
Apple is launching a real-time translation feature for AirPods with iOS 19 in late 2025, letting users hear instant translations while the original audio plays on their iPhone. The feature will be available via a software update, though supported languages remain unspecified.
U.S. government cuts critical translation services
The Trump administration has stopped providing translation services for people calling DHS about jobs and benefits, ending a contract with Legal Interpreting Services, Inc. This will affect programs like E-Verify and SAVE, making it harder for non-English speakers to fix mistakes, which could lead to job losses or denied benefits.
K-Pop translation blunder sparks laughter
Weverse, a platform where K-pop fans interact with their favorite artists, saw its auto-translation feature mistranslate BTS’ J-Hope’s lyrics during a live session, turning a simple line into an inappropriate phrase. While designed to connect global fans, AI translation errors like this continue to confuse K-pop.
Jeju Airport introduces AI-powered interpretation kiosk
Jeju International Airport has introduced South Korea’s first AI-powered interpretation kiosk, supporting 13 languages for smooth traveler communication. The system translates queries for airport staff and displays responses in the passenger’s language.
Mistranslation leads to arrest in Turkey
A mistranslation in Turkey led to the wrongful arrest of politician Nezir Budak after an online tool misinterpreted his Kurdish speech as militant support. Without a human translator, authorities charged him with “terrorist propaganda.” This highlights the risks of relying on AI for legal translations.
The translation industry is closely linked to other fast-evolving fields, and we keep track of them to keep you informed. Follow us by the link for weekly insights: linkedin.com/company/the-language-doctors
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