Automated Speech Translation: the right choice for your event?

What is Automated Speech Translation (AST)?

Before considering AST for your event, it’s important to understand that AST is not a true interpreting service. The term “AI interpreting” is often used, but can be misleading – AST does not replace professional interpreters. Instead, it acts as an automated transcription and translation system.

How does AST work?

• It converts spoken language into text in real time.
• It translates the text into another language.
• It delivers the translation as synthesised speech or subtitles.

When does Automated Speech Translation make sense—and when does it fall short?

The suitability of Automated Speech Translation (AST) depends largely on the specific requirements of your event. While AST may seem like an attractive option for certain settings, it’s essential to assess whether it can truly meet your communication, accuracy, and security needs.

Before choosing AST, ask yourself the following key questions:

1. How important is accuracy in interpreting?
   For events where accurate and reliable communication is critical, AST can pose significant challenges due to its susceptibility to error. Machine translations can misinterpret key terms or even reverse the meaning of entire sentences. If your event involves legal, medical or technical discussions, professional interpreters remain the safer and more reliable choice.
2. What language combinations are required?
   AST typically provides the best results for widely spoken languages such as English, Spanish and French. However, when working with less documented languages, translation accuracy can drop significantly. In addition, if the target language is longer than the source language, AST can cause delays that disrupt the natural flow of the event.
3. How interactive is your event?
   AST works best in environments where there is minimal audience interaction. In highly dynamic events – such as panel discussions, debates or live Q&A sessions – it struggles to cope with interruptions, overlapping speech or spontaneous exchanges. Human interpreters, on the other hand, can adapt instantly to ensure smooth and coherent communication.
4. Does your event require specialist knowledge or cultural understanding?
   Technical jargon, industry-specific terminology, idioms and cultural references are often a challenge for AST. Professional interpreters understand the context and ensure that complex issues are conveyed accurately. However, AST lack the ability to interpret cultural nuances, new terminology or informal language.
5. Are the technical requirements met?
   A stable internet connection and high quality audio input are essential for AST to work effectively. Poor connectivity or background noise can lead to inaccurate or garbled translations, potentially disrupting communication at a critical moment.
6. Does your event involve confidential information?
   Many AST services rely on cloud-based processing, raising concerns about data security and privacy compliance. If your event involves sensitive business discussions, legal proceedings or confidential negotiations, it is vital that the platform meets strict data protection standards. For high-profile events, professional interpreters offer greater control over confidentiality.
7. Do your speakers articulate clearly?
   AST works best when speakers use clear, structured sentences. However, speakers who speak quickly, have a heavy accent or interrupt frequently can lead to distorted translations. If your event requires seamless, natural communication, AST’s limitations could lead to misunderstandings.
8. Is budget the main deciding factor?
   While AST may seem like a cost-saving solution, it’s important to consider the hidden costs of misinterpretation and communication breakdowns. Translation errors can lead to costly misunderstandings, reputational risks and even legal implications – costs that could be avoided by investing in professional interpreters.
9. Are there any legal or regulatory requirements?
   Some industries – such as finance, healthcare and human rights – have strict legal and regulatory standards for multilingual communication. Not all AST platforms meet these requirements, so it is important to check compliance. For legally binding discussions, human interpreters remain the gold standard.
10. Do you want to offer your audience the best possible experience?
    Interpreting goes beyond simply translating words – it is about conveying meaning, intent and emotion. Human interpreters excel at capturing these subtleties, ensuring that audiences feel fully engaged and understand not only what is being said, but why it matters.

Concluding remarks

Automated Speech Translation (AST) can be a cost-effective and convenient solution in certain scenarios—particularly for straightforward events or when only a few languages are involved. However, for interactive discussions, highly technical content, or confidential settings, AST quickly reaches its limitations.

When accuracy, reliability, and security are paramount, professional interpreters remain the best choice. Their ability to adapt to complex dialogue, capture cultural nuances, and ensure seamless communication makes them indispensable for high-level multilingual events.

CB Multilingual is here to help you choose the best solution for your event. Contact us to find out more and find the ideal language solution for your needs.