In the 2025 year-end episode of SlatorPod, hosts Florian Faes and Esther Bond reflect on a year defined by rapid AI investment, shifting policy, and structural change across the language industry.

Esther opens the year-in-review by highlighting January’s twin funding milestones in the language AI and product space. Florian follows with February, which saw hyperscalers and AI labs release data highly relevant to the way AI translation is being used.

March, April, and May saw major developments both on the regulatory side and in terms of bolt-on acquisition deals.

Past the mid-year point, OpenAI’s decision to hire a localization manager was what grabbed the industry’s collective attention. The AI lab’s decision contrasted with September’s news, which saw the closure of one of the world’s most recognized academic programs for localization.

The year closed on publicly listed LSIs releasing mixed results and major announcements in AI translation for literature and live speech translation rollouts.

The duo closes with 2026 predictions!