Localization Today

Is AI dubbing ready for prime time without human guidance? In this episode, Taras Malkovych, founder of Tapas Localization, joins us to discuss the realities of integrating AI into complex audiovisual workflows. He argues that while AI has made massive strides, it remains a tool that needs to be "led by the hand," specifically to capture the nuances of human emotion, pauses, and natural imperfections that machines often miss.

This conversation moves beyond the hype to practical production strategies, examining the shift from subtitling to game localization and ethical AI dubbing. Taras warns against the industry settling for lowered quality thresholds and explains why his team focuses on workflows where linguists act as decision-makers who sculpt raw data.

2025 was the year the industry realized the potential of "Agentic AI." In this episode, Lorcan Malone, CEO of XTM International, joins us to discuss the shift toward agentic workflows where software becomes conversational and autonomous.

We explore why the industry must "think ambitiously" about AI, moving from simple translation to complex governance, and how enterprises will soon integrate localization directly into tools like Slack or Teams, keeping the human in control.

By Nuha Alhejji

This article describes why Saudi Arabia approaches artificial intelligence (AI) in translation as a question of design, focusing less on speed and more on accountability. The author explains the need to prioritize human judgment as the country develops its AI-enabled translation systems.

By the Saudi Arabia Translation Association

Saudi Arabia’s Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission (LPTC) is charged with providing institutional support to linguists through certification, training, and mentorship programs. This article outlines the LPTC’s major initiatives and goals for the future.

By Hani Alotaibi

In Saudi Arabia, translation and interpreting education is being reshaped by workforce policy, with curriculum reform and graduate employability increasingly treated as measurable institutional obligations. This article delves into how some of the country’s universities are tackling this transformation.

By Hani Alotaibi

Language access in Saudi Arabia has evolved through a sequence of policy interventions that have positioned language as a functional pillar of broader institutional transformation. By integrating language access into governance structures and public service design, these policies aim to better serve non-Arabic speakers and to provide employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.

By Abdulrahman Alsayed

Founded in 2019, the Saudi Arabia Translation Association (SATA) serves as a hub for the nation’s linguists, linking professional practice to the wider cultural landscape. Through educational resources and outreach activities, the organization aims to empower translators to be active agents in the production of meaning.

By Abdulrahman Alsayed

In Saudi Arabia, translation has moved from an auxiliary service to a defining element of a broad national transformation, reflecting a change in how culture and knowledge are understood in the Kingdom. This article outlines the Saudi translation sector’s new structure and its role in strengthening the country’s presence on the global stage.

By Amer Qobti

Fueled largely by its young population and the multibillion-dollar National Gaming and Esports Strategy, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global gaming and esports hub. The author details the essential role that localization plays in driving this growth.

What began as a search for peers in a male-dominated field has grown into a global powerhouse of over 18,000 members. In this episode, Anna N Schlegel, co-founder of Women in Localization and author of Truly Global, joins us to explore how leadership, community, and visibility have fundamentally transformed the language industry over the last 19 years. 

The conversation digs deep into the future of the profession, specifically the urgent need for women to move beyond support roles and lead in R&D and product development. She discusses the new "We Shape AI" initiative, addressing critical gender and cultural biases in Large Language Models (LLMs).