Dutch publisher uses AI to translate books into English
Veen Bosch & Keuning’s AI experiment in translating commercial fiction into English has raised concerns in the book publishing industry.
Dutch publishing behemoth Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK) has announced its intention to begin experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI) to translate selected books into English. The publisher, which was recently acquired by Simon & Schuster, aims to trial this technology on a limited scope, focusing exclusively on commercial fiction titles.
“This project contains less than ten titles – all commercial fiction. No literary titles will nor shall be used,” said Vanessa van Hofwegen, VBK’s commercial director. “This is on an experimental basis, and we’re only including books where English rights have not been sold, and we don’t foresee the opportunity to sell English rights of these books in the future.”
VBK has emphasised that the process will incorporate a human editing phase and that authors have been asked for their consent before proceeding. A company spokesperson said: “We are not creating books with AI, it all starts and ends with human action.”
The initiative has been met with scepticism from literary professionals. Michele Hutchison, acclaimed translator and winner of the 2020 International Booker Prize for her translation of Lucas Rijneveld’s “The Discomfort of Evening,” expressed concerns. “There’s only so far you can get with machine translation post-editing,” she said, adding that while AI might produce a superficially smooth text, it risks resulting in a bland and potentially uninspired product.
David McKay, another prominent translator, warned of the potential pitfalls of AI translations. “Taking the translator out of the loop opens the door to incorrect or misleading translations that will serve readers poorly,” he said.
Concerns are not limited to the quality of translation alone. Ian Giles, co-chair of the Society of Authors’ Translators Association, described the news as “concerning”. Referring to a survey by the SoA earlier this year, Giles noted that over a third of translators reported a loss in work due to generative AI. He argued that if VBK feels the need to involve human translators or editors, it is an acknowledgment of the inherent flaws in using AI for book translation.
These developments at VBK come amidst a broader industry debate about the role of technology in publishing and the appropriate balance between innovation and maintaining the integrity of literary work. As the debate continues, authors, translators and readers alike await the outcomes of VBK’s trials with AI-driven translation. The reactions and results from this initiative will likely influence future practices in publishing, highlighting the tension between technological advancement and artistic authenticity.
Source: Noah Wire Services
More on this & sources
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – Corroborates the announcement by Veen Bosch & Keuning to use AI for translating books into English, focusing on commercial fiction and the involvement of human editing.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – Provides details on the scope of the project, including the number of titles and the exclusion of literary works, as stated by Vanessa van Hofwegen.
- https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com – Mentions the acquisition of VBK by Simon & Schuster and the experimental use of AI for translation, aligning with the broader context of the article.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – Quotes concerns from Michele Hutchison about the limitations and potential drawbacks of machine translation post-editing.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – Includes warnings from David McKay about the potential for incorrect or misleading translations and the impact on translators’ work.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – References Ian Giles’ concerns and the Society of Authors’ survey on job losses among translators due to generative AI.
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/04/dutch-publisher-to-use-ai-to-translate-books-into-english-veen-bosch-keuning-artificial-intelligence – Highlights the broader industry debate on the role of technology in publishing and the balance between innovation and artistic integrity.
- https://www.complete-review.com/saloon/ – While not directly addressing VBK, it provides context on the ongoing discussions and debates within the literary community regarding translation and publishing trends.
- https://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com – Discusses industry trends and changes, including technological advancements and their impact on publishing practices.
- https://www.reddit.com/r/machinetranslation/comments/1ct8lx1/which_ai_is_best_suited_for_translating_a_novel/ – Provides insights from users on the challenges and considerations of using AI for translating novels, aligning with the concerns raised by translators in the article.
- https://github.com/yihong0618/bilingual_book_maker – Illustrates the technical aspects of AI translation tools, such as the bilingual_book_maker, which can be used for translating books, though it is not directly related to VBK’s specific project.
Source: Tomorrow’s Publisher