Every time a translation organization does an anodyne paid webinar or even provides a free event to teach its members how to translate better, without mentioning that freelancers are already losing large amounts of translation work from agencies that are replacing them with AI, a few more translators are allowed to believe that freelance translating will go on forever.
For translators with only translation skills—even advanced skills and degrees—it’s not going to go on forever. In fact, it’s not going to go on for much longer at all, and it has already ended for numerous translators, although that is a painful reality that’s difficult to talk about.
But is avoiding discussion of the problems and diverting attention to things that will not offer survival solutions or workable career options in the interest of professionals? I think not. Honesty and courage are called for.
