From the CapTable The last word: AI-based translation startups are booming, but at a human cost Manjunath’s phone barely rings anymore. The 45-year-old Malayalam translator once earned Rs 3-4 lakh monthly working from his Bengaluru flat. Now, after two decades in the business, he spends his days wondering if he should write books instead. The reason is simple: machines have taken over. Where Manjunath once translated documents from scratch, artificial intelligence now does the heavy lifting.”80-90% of the work is already done. We are only sent to review it and correct some bits of it. So our earnings have also halved,” he says, his voice flat with resignation. His story plays out across India’s translation sector, where a stark paradox is unfolding. A recent Microsoft study found that translators are most likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence. Yet even as individual translators watch their livelihoods crumble, the translation business itself is booming. AI-powered startups are raising millions, expanding globally and posting explosive growth. What artificial intelligence hasn't automated, it has cheapened. Where human linguists once commanded $20-25 per hour, they now scramble for work at Rs 1 per word, when they can find it. Manjunath requested a pseudonym as he fears losing what little work comes his way. “During the golden era of translation, my earnings were about Rs 3-4 lakh per month,” he recalls. That golden era should feel like ancient history now, given that he hasn’t landed a new client in two years. Continue Reading
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