Hello to those translators who keep one foot in today’s reality and the other in tomorrow’s possibilities,

You’ve probably thought this yourself. Why should I invest time in AI tools if I’m already scrambling to find paying work?

I get it.

If client requests have slowed or shifted toward machine output, it feels like the whole ship is sinking. Spending hours learning new skills might look like wasted motion… moving chairs around instead of plugging the leak.

But here’s the reality.

The translation industry hasn’t shrunk.

Demand is bigger than ever. The difference is that machines take the first cut. Which leaves us with a choice:

Stick to outdated workflows and slide into low-value post-editing… or step into AI-driven methods that make your work faster, sharper, and impossible to confuse with an algorithm.

Think of bakeries.

Bread consumption didn’t disappear… it shifted.

People buy less of the bland loaves and pay more for the good stuff. With lower volume, they became more selective and less price-sensitive.

Translation is moving the same way. Not every client is looking for artisan quality… but the right ones are, and they’re the ones worth working with.

That’s why mastering AI isn’t busywork. It’s the foundation for staying visible when serious clients decide who to trust.

And here’s the kicker. If your inbox feels empty, this is the perfect time to develop yourself. Fewer projects means space to test new workflows and practice making AI speak in your voice.

The colleagues who wait for volume to return will still be fumbling with the basics. You’ll be miles ahead.

The translators who thrive will not be the ones who just learn another CAT tool or keep cutting post-editing rates just to survive.

They’ll be the ones who already invested in frameworks that supercharge productivity and raise quality. That’s how you get back to projects that matter, clients who notice, and a career that feels worth it again.

Until next time, keep choosing the artisan path.

Steven

PS – Reply and tell me the strangest or most surprising way AI has affected your translation work so far. And while you’re at it, give me your 1-to-10 worry rating about the future.