Friday, October 17, 2025

Actual-Time AI Help for Translators


Translator Copilot is Unbabel’s new AI assistant constructed immediately into our CAT software. It leverages giant language fashions (LLMs) and Unbabel’s proprietary High quality Estimation (QE) expertise to behave as a sensible second pair of eyes for each translation. From checking whether or not buyer directions are adopted to flagging potential errors in actual time, Translator Copilot strengthens the connection between clients and translators, making certain translations usually are not solely correct however absolutely aligned with expectations.

Why We Constructed Translator Copilot

Translators at Unbabel obtain directions in two methods:

  • Normal directions outlined on the workflow degree (e.g., formality or formatting preferences)
  • Undertaking-specific directions that apply to explicit recordsdata or content material (e.g., “Don’t translate model names”)
Adding Project Specific Instructions via the Projects App

These seem within the CAT software and are important for sustaining accuracy and model consistency. However beneath tight deadlines or with complicated steering, it’s doable for these directions to be missed.

That’s the place Translator Copilot is available in. It was created to shut that hole by offering computerized, real-time assist. It checks compliance with directions and flags any points because the translator works. Along with instruction checks, it additionally highlights grammar points, omissions, or incorrect terminology, all as a part of a seamless workflow.

How Translator Copilot Helps

The function is designed to ship worth in three core areas:

  • Improved compliance: Reduces danger of missed directions
  • Increased translation high quality: Flags potential points early
  • Diminished price and rework: Minimizes the necessity for guide revisions

Collectively, these advantages make Translator Copilot a vital software for quality-conscious translation groups.

From Concept to Integration: How We Constructed It

We started in a managed playground setting, testing whether or not LLMs may reliably assess instruction compliance utilizing diversified prompts and fashions. As soon as we recognized the best-performing setup, we built-in it into Polyglot, our inside translator platform.

However figuring out a working setup was simply the beginning. We ran additional evaluations to know how the answer carried out throughout the precise translator expertise, amassing suggestions and refining the function earlier than full rollout.

From there, we introduced every part collectively: LLM-based instruction checks and QE-powered error detection have been merged right into a single, unified expertise in our CAT software.

What Translators See

Translator Copilot analyzes every phase and makes use of visible cues (small coloured dots) to point points. Clicking on a flagged phase reveals two sorts of suggestions:

  • AI Strategies: LLM-powered compliance checks that spotlight deviations from buyer directions
  • Attainable Errors: Flagged by QE fashions, together with grammar points, mistranslations, or omissions
Translator View in Polyglot - Translator Copilot Translator View in Polyglot - Translator Copilot

To assist translator workflows and guarantee easy adoption, we added a number of usability options:

  • One-click acceptance of ideas
  • Skill to report false positives or incorrect ideas
  • Fast navigation between flagged segments
  • Finish-of-task suggestions assortment to collect person insights

The Technical Challenges We Solved

Bringing Translator Copilot to life concerned fixing a number of robust challenges:

Low preliminary success fee: In early checks, the LLM appropriately recognized instruction compliance solely 30% of the time. By way of intensive immediate engineering and supplier experimentation, we raised that to 78% earlier than full rollout.

HTML formatting: Translator directions are written in HTML for readability. However this launched a brand new problem, HTML degraded LLM efficiency. We resolved this by stripping HTML earlier than sending directions to the mannequin, which required cautious immediate design to protect which means and construction.

Glossary alignment: One other early problem was that some mannequin ideas contradicted buyer glossaries. To repair this, we refined prompts to include glossary context, decreasing conflicts and boosting belief in AI ideas.

How We Measure Success

To judge Translator Copilot’s impression, we applied a number of metrics:

  • Error delta: Evaluating the variety of points flagged firstly vs. the top of every process. A optimistic error discount fee signifies that the translators are utilizing Copilot to enhance high quality.
Error Reduction Rate by Percentage of Tasks - Translator Copilot Error Reduction Rate by Percentage of Tasks - Translator Copilot
  • AI ideas versus Attainable Errors: AI Strategies led to a 66% error discount fee, versus 57% for Attainable Errors alone.
AI Suggestions VS Possible Errors - Translator Copilot AI Suggestions VS Possible Errors - Translator Copilot
  • Consumer habits: In 60% of duties, the variety of flagged points decreased. In 15%, there was no change, probably circumstances the place ideas have been ignored. We additionally monitor suggestion reviews to enhance mannequin habits.

An attention-grabbing perception emerged from our information: LLM efficiency varies by language pair. For instance, error reporting is larger in German-English, Portuguese-Italian and Portuguese-German, and decrease in english supply language pairs equivalent to English-Spanish or English-Norwegian, an space we’re persevering with to analyze.

Reported AI Suggestions per 1000 Words - Translator Copilot Reported AI Suggestions per 1000 Words - Translator Copilot

Trying Forward

Translator Copilot is a giant step ahead in combining GenAI and linguist workflows. It brings instruction compliance, error detection, and person suggestions into one cohesive expertise. Most significantly, it helps translators ship higher outcomes, sooner.

We’re excited by the early outcomes, and much more enthusiastic about what’s subsequent! That is only the start.

In regards to the Writer

Profile Photo of Chloé Andrews

Chloé Andrews

ChloĂ© is Unbabel’s Product & Buyer Advertising and marketing Supervisor. She makes a speciality of enhancing buyer understanding of Unbabel’s merchandise and worth via focused messaging and strategic communication.

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