Time/Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026 (3:30-5:00 pm)
Speaker: Laura Ramirez, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Title: The evolving landscape of translation technology... and where translators fit in
Abstract:
Translation technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Neural machine translation, large language models, generative AI, and increasingly integrated and automated translation environments are reshaping how translations are produced and the expertise expected of translators. As these technologies become more capable, the question is no longer simply what they can do, but where translators, and future translators, fit within this changing landscape.
This talk examines recent developments in translation technology and their implications for both professional practice and translator training. Moving beyond narratives of human replacement, it draws on recent work on augmented translation and human-centered AI (O’Brien, 2024; Jiménez-Crespo, 2025), AI literacy (Zhang & Doherty, 2025), and AI-in-the-loop pedagogy (Freeth & Toto, 2026) to explore how emerging technologies can support and augment, rather than simply automate or displace, human expertise. Particular attention will be paid to the changing role of translators and to the skills that gain importance in increasingly AI-mediated workflows, including critical judgment, creativity, contextualization, problem-solving, and the ability to evaluate technological outputs and limitations.
The talk will also consider how these developments require us to rethink translator training. Recent research suggests that effective integration involves more than teaching students to operate new tools: it requires developing AI literacy from the beginning of translator education (Zhang & Doherty, 2025), designing pedagogies that preserve human agency and decision-making (Jiménez-Crespo, 2025; Freeth & Toto, 2026), and structuring AI-supported tasks in ways that promote rather than bypass higher-order thinking (Tian et al., 2025). Ultimately, the talk argues for translator training that prepares students not simply to use emerging technologies, but to make informed and ethical decisions about when, why, and whether to use them.
Bio:
Laura Ramírez Polo is an Associate Teaching Professor of Spanish and Translation and Interpreting at Rutgers University–New Brunswick, where she coordinates the Certificate and MA programs in Translation and Interpreting and directs the Rutgers Language Bank. Her teaching and research focus on translation and interpreting, language access, community-engaged learning, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in multilingual communication.
A certified translator and healthcare interpreter, Dr. Ramírez Polo combines academic expertise with professional and community-based practice. Her current work spans language access in healthcare settings, translation and interpreting as forms of civic and community participation, and the use of emerging technologies in the teaching and practice of translation and interpreting.