In January 2024, a UK tech firm, InnovX ( name changed ), was set to finalise a crucial partnership with a South Korean electronics giant for a new product launch. Confident in their AI translation tool, they used it for a virtual meeting with the South Korean team, believing it could handle the technical language and cultural nuances.
During the discussion, InnovX’s CEO emphasised their product’s “high flexibility in customisation.” However, the AI tool translated this as “complicated and rigid design,” causing the South Korean team to become visibly concerned. As the conversation progressed, confusion grew. The South Korean partners began questioning the product’s adaptability, clearly worried about potential limitations. InnovX’s CEO, baffled by their sudden hesitation, struggled to understand the problem as the AI continued to provide fragmented and misleading translations.
Recognising that something was going wrong, InnovX’s project manager contacted Language Interpreters Ltd, seeking urgent assistance. Within minutes, Language Interpreters Ltd arranged for Ji-Yoon, a skilled Korean-English interpreter with a background in technology, to join the call.
Ji-Yoon quickly realised that the AI had misinterpreted key phrases and reassured the South Korean partners, explaining that InnovX’s product was, in fact, highly customisable and easy to adapt. She corrected the errors and provided accurate, culturally appropriate translations, clarifying the true strengths of InnovX’s technology. Her ability to convey the intended message while respecting cultural subtleties helped to rebuild trust in the meeting.
With Ji-Yoon’s expert guidance, the mood of the conversation shifted. The South Korean team’s concerns eased, and they expressed renewed interest in the partnership. By the end of the meeting, InnovX successfully secured the deal.
The incident was a stark reminder for InnovX that while AI can be a useful tool, the human expertise and precision offered by interpreters from Language Interpreters Ltd remain irreplaceable when clear communication and cultural understanding are at stake.
Disclaimer: The blogs presented is entirely fictitious and created for informational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The narratives, characters, and scenarios depicted herein are products of the author’s imagination and should not be construed as factual or representative of any real-life situations.
