What is AI slop? When I share something with another person, I almost always sense whether I have truly been understood. If someone responds too quickly or with too many…
What are the long-term effects of using AI? They say: “If you meet the Buddha by the road, kill him.” It simply means that if you worship any fixed idea…
Why can't AI truly know without lived experience? A client recently asked me to localize their Russian website for a U.S. audience. I asked, “What are your goals?” They replied:…
What do clients want from translators in the age of AI? A client called me today and said, “I’ve written a book, and I’d like to translate it into English.…
Is language a means of communication? A friend recently used the word “flimsy” in a somewhat unusual context, and I asked, “What do you mean by flimsy?” He replied, “Well, the word means…
Can machines truly understand? A client recently contacted me as an interpreter and said, “It’s critically important for me not just to convey the words literally, but to preserve the…
Who can be an interpreter for a USCIS interview? Technically, an interpreter must be at least 18 years old, fluent in both English and the applicant’s language, and able to…
What will AI never replace? As an ATA-certified Russian translator and interpreter, I get to meet many people—and learn a great deal about the psychology of interpreting. What do people…
Finding the right certified Russian medical interpreter or translator can be tricky. When choosing the right specialist, you are looking for someone you can trust — someone who can not…
How is AI affecting language? "To reduce language to information is to flatten out the miracle of understanding." — George Steiner, After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation (1975) George…