行业观察 | AI 生成与 AI 辅助翻译:译者控制权的边界之争

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As language professionals, we’re constantly adapting to new technologies, but we also face a crucial question: How much control should artificial intelligence (AI) have over our work?

作为语言专业工作者，我们不断适应新技术，但也面临一个关键问题： 人工智能（AI）应对我们的工作有多大控制权？



Two terms are often thrown around — AI-generated and AI-assisted — but they aren’t interchangeable. From a translator’s perspective, the difference between these approaches isn’t just technical; it’s about the role we play in the process, the value we bring, and the mindset required to deliver high-quality translations.

有两个术语常被提及——“人工智能生成”与“人工智能辅助”——但二者并非可以互换。从译者视角来看，这两种模式的区别不仅仅是技术上的，更关乎译者在翻译过程中扮演的角色、创造的价值，以及产出高质量译文所需的思维范式。





AI-Generated

人工智能生成

AI-generated translation is exactly what it sounds like: content produced entirely by AI, without direct human involvement in the initial translation process. This method relies on neural machine translation (NMT) systems like DeepL, Google Translate, or OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs) to convert text from one language to another automatically.

顾名思义，人工智能生成翻译指的是译文完全由人工智能产出，初始翻译过程中人类不直接参与。该模式依赖神经网络机器翻译（NMT）系统，如DeepL、谷歌翻译或OpenAI的大语言模型（LLMs），将文本自动实现跨语言转换。

From a vendor’s point of view, AI-generated translation can feel like both an opportunity and a threat. It’s fast, cheap, and scalable, which makes it attractive to clients who need large volumes of text translated quickly. Some companies use AI-generated translations for e-commerce product descriptions, customer support chatbots, or user-generated content where perfection isn’t the priority — only basic comprehension.

从供应商视角看，人工智能生成翻译既是机遇，又是挑战。它速度快、成本低且可规模化，对于需要快速翻译大量文本的客户极具吸引力。部分企业将人工智能生成译文用于电商产品描述、机器人客服或用户生成内容——这些场景不追求完美，实现基本理解即可。

But raw AI-generated translations aren’t flawless. Even the most advanced AI struggles with:

但未经处理的人工智能生成译文并非无懈可击。 即便是最先进的人工智能，也会在以下方面存在局限：

Contest and intent 语境与意图

AI doesn’t always understand the subtle differences in meaning that depend on context. A single word can have multiple interpretations.

人工智能往往无法理解因语境产生的语义细微差别。同一个单词可能有多重释义。

Tone and voice语气与风格

AI might translate a text correctly but fail to capture the intended tone, whether formal, friendly, or persuasive.

人工智能或许能准确翻译文本，但难以捕捉预期的语气，无论是正式、亲和还是具有说服力的表达。

Cultural adaptation文化适配

Localization goes beyond translation. AI can’t always adjust content to fit the cultural nuances of the target audience.

本地化不仅是语言转换。人工智能往往无法调整内容以贴合目标受众的细微文化差别。

Cultural adaptatiIndustry-specific terminology 行业特定术语

In specialized fields like legal, medical, or technical translation, AI often makes mistakes that can lead to misunderstandings or even legal issues.

在法律、医疗或技术翻译等专业领域，人工智能常因术语错误导致误解，甚至引发法律风险。

As translators, we often see AI-generated translations land on our desks for machine translation post-editing (MTPE) — a task that involves correcting machine output while trying to salvage as much of the original AI translation as possible. This can be frustrating because bad AI translations often take longer to fix than starting from scratch.

作为译者，我们常收到人工智能生成的译文，进行机器翻译后编辑（MTPE）——这项工作需要修正机器输出，同时尽量保留原始人工智能译文内容。令人沮丧的是，编辑劣质的人工智能译文往往比从零开始翻译更耗时。

Still, AI-generated translation has its place, especially for:

尽管如此，人工智能生成翻译仍有其存在的价值，特别是对于：

Bulk content where speed matters more than quality (e.g., product catalogs)

速度优先于质量的批量内容（如产品目录）



Internal company communications that don’t require a perfect polish

无需极致润色的企业内部沟通

Large-scale projects where AI can handle the first draft, and human post-editors refine it

大型项目中，人工智能处理初稿，人工编辑进行精修的场景。





AI-Assisted

人工智能辅助

AI-assisted translation, on the other hand, keeps human translators at the center of the process. Instead of replacing us, AI acts as a co-pilot, helping us work faster and more efficiently. This approach typically involves:

人工智能辅助翻译将人类译者置于流程核心。人工智能并非取代译者，而是充当副驾驶的角色，助力我们更高效地工作。 该模式主要包括：

Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools 计算机辅助翻译（CAT）工具

These tools, like Trados, memoQ, and Smartcat, provide translation memory, glossaries, and real-time AI suggestions that we can accept, modify, or ignore.

如 Trados、memoQ 和 Smartcat等，提供翻译记忆库、术语表及实时人工智能建议，译者可以选择接受、修改或忽略。

AI-powered quality checks人工智能驱动质量检查

AI can flag inconsistencies, detect grammar errors, and suggest improvements while leaving the final decision to the translator.

人工智能可标记不一致处，检测语法错误并提出优化建议，最终决策权仍由译者掌握。

Predictive typing and auto-suggestions预测输入与自动建议

AI can suggest translations based on previous work, speeding up repetitive tasks without compromising accuracy.

人工智能可基于历史翻译提供建议，在不影响准确性的前提下提升重复性任务效率。

For a translator, AI-assisted workflows feel like a natural evolution of our work rather than a disruption. We maintain creative and linguistic control while letting AI handle the more tedious parts of translation, like repetitive phrases or terminology consistency. Where AI-generated translation might lead to frustration (especially in post-editing), AI-assisted translation helps us work smarter while keeping our expertise at the core of the process.

对译者而言，人工智能辅助工作更像是职业发展的自然演变，而非颠覆性冲击。我们在保有创造性和语言控制权的同时，让人工智能处理翻译中较繁琐的部分，如重复短语或术语一致性。 当人工智能生成翻译可能引发挫败感时（尤其是在译后编辑环节），人工智能辅助模式则助力我们更智慧地工作，同时将专业能力置于流程核心。





The Trade-Offs

模式的权衡取舍

From a vendor’s perspective, we often see clients approach translation with three primary concerns:

从供应商视角看，客户对待翻译常聚焦三个核心问题：



1. How much will it cost?

成本多少？

2. How fast can it be done?

耗时多久？

3. What will the quality be like?

质量如何？

The answer depends on the method chosen, as seen in the following table.

答案取决于所选模式，如下表所示：





Clients often underestimate the importance of human involvement, assuming AI-generated translations are “good enough.” But when quality truly matters — marketing materials, legal contracts, creative content — AI-assisted workflows provide the best balance between efficiency and excellence.

客户常低估人工参与的重要性，认为人工智能生成译文“足够用”。但当质量成为关键——如营销文案、法律合同、创意内容——人工智能辅助工作流程在效率和品质间实现了最佳平衡。

Post-editing of AI-generated text can sometimes be a false economy — especially if the AI translation is poor and requires heavy rewriting. In such cases, AI-assisted translation (where the human remains in control from the start) can be faster and produce better results.

对人工智能生成文本进行译后编辑有时是一种“虚假节约”，尤其其译文质量低下需要大量重译时。此时，人工智能辅助翻译（人工从始至终主导）反而更高效，且成果更优。





The Meaning of “Human Touch”

“人情味”意义所在

Does “assisted” mean human touch, and “generated” mean no human touch? Not necessarily. Many AI-generated translations still require human post-editing to be usable, meaning they aren’t entirely free from human touch. On the other hand, AI-assisted translation keeps humans actively involved throughout the process, guiding AI to enhance rather than replace our expertise.

“辅助”是否意味着有人情味，“生成”是否意味着没有？ 未必。许多人工智能生成译文仍需人工后期编辑才能使用，说明其并非完全脱离人为干预。而人工智能辅助翻译有人类的全程积极参与，引导人工智能强化而不是取代我们的专业能力。

As vendors, we know that clients don’t always understand this distinction. Some assume AI-assisted means the same thing as AI-generated, leading to unrealistic expectations about cost and turnaround time. Part of our role is to educate clients about the differences and help them choose the right approach based on their goals.

作为供应商，我们深知客户并非总能理解其中差异。有人将人工智能辅助与人工智能生成混为一谈，进而对成本和周期产生不切实际的期待。我们的部分职责正是向客户科普差异，帮助其根据目标选择合适的方案。

For example, if a client just wants a quick draft translation for internal use, AI-generated might work. But if they want a consumer-facing translation that represents their brand, AI-assisted (or fully human) translation is the only responsible choice.

例如，若客户仅需一份内部使用的快速草稿，人工智能生成或许可行。但如果需要一份面向消费者的译文，代表品牌形象，人工智能辅助（或全人工翻译）是唯一负责任的选择。





Looking Ahead: A Hybrid Approach

展望未来：混合模式

As translators, we aren’t going anywhere — but our role is evolving. AI is here to stay, and the best way forward is to embrace hybrid workflows where technology enhances our capabilities rather than diminishing our value. Key points of this approach are:

作为译者，我们不会消失——但角色正在演进。AI已成为常态，最佳发展路径是拥抱混合工作流程：让技术增强我们的能力，而非削弱价值。该模式的核心要点在于：

AI-generated translation will keep improving, but it won’t eliminate the need for human expertise.

AI生成翻译会持续进化，但不会消除对人类专业知识的需求。

AI-assisted translation is the sweet spot — where professionals and technology work together to produce high-quality translations efficiently.

AI辅助翻译是最佳平衡点——专业人士与技术协同，高效产出优质译文。

Clients need better education on the strengths and limitations of each approach, so they can make informed decisions.

客户需要深入了解每种模式的优缺点，才能做出明智决策。





At the end of the day, AI is a tool, not a replacement. The real magic of translation lies in the human ability to understand nuance, adapt content for culture, and make meaning resonate. AI can help, but it can’t replace the translator’s mind, intuition, or experience.

归根结底，AI是一个工具，而不是替代品。翻译的真正魔力在于人类对细微差别的理解、文化语境的适配、创造共鸣的能力。AI可以助力，但无法取代译者的思维、直觉与经验。

So, the next time someone asks whether AI-generated or AI-assisted translation is better, let’s remind them: It’s not about choosing between humans and AI — it’s about knowing when to let AI assist and when to take the lead.

因此，下次若有人问AI生成与AI辅助的翻译哪个更好，请提醒他们：这不是在人类与人工智能之间做选择——而是要清楚地知道何时让人工智能辅助，何时由人类主导。

作者信息

Gabriela Kouahla

加布里埃拉·库阿拉

Gabriela Kouahla has been a certified bilingual translator (English to French<>Romanian) since 2010. She is the founder of BEYOND WORDS LINGUISTIC SERVICES, the first Algeria-based localization agency for researchers

加布里埃拉•库阿拉自2010年起成为认证双语译者（英语与法语/罗马尼亚语互译）。她是BEYOND WORDS LINGUISTIC SERVICES的创始人——阿尔及利亚首家专注于研究人员本地化服务的机构。

原文网址：https://multilingual.com/ai-generated-versus-ai-assisted-a-translators-perspective-on-control-and-quality/

特别说明：本文内容选自Multilingual官网，仅供学习交流使用，如有侵权请后台联系小编删除。

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