Translation and Localization with ChatGPT: Revolutionize Your Workflow

We all know ChatGPT now, right? This barrier-breaking generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI went from zero to hero when it was launched in 2022 and in the past few years it has only been growing in popularity. Here are two key numbers: ChatGPT has around 180.5 million users and had 1.6 billion views in December 2024 alone. This proves that the platform is steadily taking over the world, deservedly enjoying the spotlight of the most advanced AI product in the world. What can't it do? From research to algebra to marketing, ChatGPT helps businesses and individuals achieve whatever goals they might have. And the world of localization is not an exception.

How does ChatGPT impact translation processes and localization workflows? How do you leverage its power to get greater business results? And is it really as good at translating as they say? All these questions are answered in this article.

What is ChatGPT by OpenAI?

ChatGPT is a smart AI tool created by OpenAI, a research group based in the US. It’s built to respond to prompts in a way that feels natural, almost like chatting with a person. Thanks to its clever architecture (called transformer), it gets the context of what you’re saying and gives back answers or content that actually makes sense. ChatGPT is pretty versatile—it can help with things like answering questions, writing up stuff, summarizing, or even handling more specific tasks like translating and localizing content for different audiences.

What Is a Large Language Model (LLM)?

What makes ChatGPT so great? It uses something called a large language model (LLM) to work its magic. An LLM is a sophisticated program trained on huge amounts of text, like books, websites, and other types of written content. This training helps it learn how people use real-life language, how sentences fit together, and how context changes meaning.

When you ask ChatGPT a question or give it a task, the LLM looks at the words you’ve written (prompts). Then it predicts the most likely response based on how it was trained to generate an answer that fits (and will be worth the money you pay for the subscription!). As time goes by, the model is getting more knowledgeable and better at creating what people expect of it.

How Good Is ChatGPT at Translating?

Using ChatGPT to help you in translation feels like a go-to option. Globally, we are having less and less time to focus on ourselves and that includes learning a foreign language. This makes AI translation sound incredibly appealing: all you need to do is press a few buttons. But is it really that great at translating content from one language to another?

Well, since it's a chatbot, I asked it directly: how do you translate and what technology do you use? ChatGPT responded with "I analyze the input text to understand its meaning, tone, and context. I then reconstruct the message in the target language, making sure it remains natural, accurate, and culturally appropriate". Interesting.

As for the technology behind it, here's the response:

Sounds pretty good, right? But what are they saying in the industry and online about it? Here are a few key takeaways:

AI Technology Is Not Perfect Yet

Despite the great progress in the realm of AI, no chatbot is ideal for translation tasks. Despite the doomsayers' prophecies that human translators will become obsolete in a year or two, this seems unlikely. The primary reasons are the following, The Economist writes:

• Struggles with context in complex or lengthy translations

• Balancing fidelity and transparency for culturally sensitive translations

• Inability to consistently translate static phrases like names

• Risk of hallucinating information not present in source text

All of these point to one key solution: review and check the AI output. Human translation can benefit greatly from an AI assistant but it is still integral in picking up subtle cues and not explicitly stated information. Moreover, human insight into nuanced topics can enhance the ultimate result of the workflow.

ChatGPT Is Getting Better

ChatGPT makes translation faster and easier by helping with things like understanding new terms and workflows in unfamiliar areas. It works well for certain types of text, like political documents, and improves research by quickly finding useful information. Translators can also use AI-generated translations as a starting point and make them better with their own edits. With clear instructions, ChatGPT can produce high-quality results, saving time while still needing human review to ensure accuracy and handle cultural details.

ChatGPT Is Great With Popular Languages

Especially English. Popular means there's a lot of training data out there for ChatGPT to pick up. This makes it good at understanding and using natural phrases, cultural details, and the right tone. Its translations often feel accurate and smooth, sometimes even better than older translation tools. However, it doesn’t do as well with less common languages because there isn’t as much data for it to learn from.

As a business looking to localize its content, you are likely to do so in French rather than Icelandic (no disrespect meant, it's a great language!). Therefore, with careful oversight of what ChatGPT produces, you are likely to get great results, just don't be slack with it.

AI Vs. Machine Translation Vs. Human Translators

In the battle for work orders and employer attention, all three have distinctive advantages and shortcomings. Let's take a closer look:

AI Translation (e.g., ChatGPT):

Pros:

• Speed: Delivers translations almost instantly, enhancing efficiency.

• Cost-Effective: Reduces expenses compared to human translation services.

• Consistency: Maintains uniformity in terminology and style across translations.

Cons:

• Nuance Limitations: May struggle with cultural subtleties and idiomatic expressions.

• Contextual Challenges: Can misinterpret context, leading to inaccuracies.

• Quality Variability: Output quality depends on the complexity of the text and language pair.

Machine Translation (MT):

Pros:

• Rapid Output: Provides quick translations for large volumes of text.

• Accessibility: Widely available through free or low-cost platforms.

• Useful for Gisting: Offers a general understanding of foreign-language content.

Cons:

• Accuracy Issues: Often produces literal translations that may lack coherence.

• Lack of Cultural Sensitivity: Fails to account for cultural nuances and context.

• Requires Post-Editing: Human intervention is needed to ensure quality and accuracy.

Human Translators:

Pros:

• High Accuracy: Capable of capturing complex meanings and cultural nuances.

• Adaptability: Can interpret context and adjust translations accordingly.

• Creative Translation: Suitable for literary and marketing content requiring a human touch.

Cons:

• Slower Turnaround: Takes more time to complete translations compared to AI and MT.

• Higher Costs: Generally more expensive due to professional fees.

• Scalability Constraints: Limited capacity to handle large volumes quickly.

Basically, if you have lots of time and unlimited resources, get a team of professional translators who will ensure top results after a lengthy wait. If speed is a priority, AI or machine translation is your friend. However, for a more nuanced and comprehensive linguistic output, I recommend combining an AI translator like ChatGPT and a human translator with experience in a given field.

Let's put the three to a test. ChatGPT and Google Translate were asked to translate the preamble of the US constitution. The official human translation was taken as a reference point. Here's what happened:

Who won? It's up to you to decide.

ChatGPT in Localization Process

Automating your localization workflow, especially when multiple languages are involved, is a sure-fire way to streamline all internal operations. But that's not it. ChatGPT boosts productivity by being versatile and useful in many parts of the localization process. Unlike regular AI tools that just translate, ChatGPT can help with various tasks, such as:

• Proofreading the original text: ChatGPT can spot and fix mistakes or suggest better ways to write, making sure the original text is clear and accurate.

• Helping before translation: It can create quick first drafts of translations, giving human translators a head start. Developers can also use it to double-check that the localization setup is ready to go.

• Suggesting alternatives: ChatGPT can suggest different ways to say things, helping translators choose the best wording for the context or audience.

• Getting ready for post-editing: It can point out areas in the translation that need extra attention, making it easier for post-editors to know what to focus on.

• Creating content: ChatGPT can help by writing materials for translators, product descriptions, or text for user interfaces, saving time and effort on manual writing tasks.

• Checking quality: It can review translations for spelling, grammar, length, and missing tags or symbols. It can even suggest fixes to make sure everything looks and works as it should.

A Different Way to Interact with ChatGPT

Here's another trick that will help you get the results you are looking for. Work with ChatGPT indirectly but partnering with a Translation Management System (TMS) that integrates ChatGPT and offers a comprehensive one-stop AI-powered service that can be overseen by human translators and translation managers as part of a large-scale localization project. Localit is a perfect example of such a service. Interested? Head over to localit.io to try it out! Your free plan is included.

Useful Tips When Using ChatGPT

You need to be armed with best practices when dealing with AI since it's a relatively new field. Here are three pieces of advice to apply when working with ChatGPT (if you want better results).

Clear Input

Make your request specific and clear. Tell ChatGPT what role to take, like “proofread for grammar,” “act as a professional translator,” or “suggest different wording.” Add details like style guides, terminology, or any helpful resources. If you can, include supporting documents or links for extra context.

Clear Output

Explain how you want the results to look. For example, let ChatGPT know if you need a specific format or if suggestions should be separate from explanations. This saves time and makes the results easier to use.

Tips for Writing Good Prompts

1. Give Background Info: Share key details like the tone, style, or audience to make responses more accurate.

2. Be Clear About the Task: Say exactly what you need, whether it’s translation, proofreading, or creating content.

3. Add Extra Details: Provide examples, preferred wording, or any specific guidelines to shape the response.

4. Share Context: For translations, include details about the text’s purpose or style, like whether it’s for a legal document or a novel.

Combining these steps helps create better prompts. Keep testing and improving your prompts to get the best results.

Future of Localization with ChatGPT

The localization industry is changing fast, with ChatGPT playing a big role in shaping the future. Its ability to work with natural language and handle translation needs makes it a powerful tool for businesses. ChatGPT translation is quick and versatile, but human input is still important for catching details and cultural differences. By using ChatGPT to translate alongside human expertise, companies can achieve their localization goals more efficiently and connect with global audiences more effectively.