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🇦🇺 Australia /Technology

AI puts Auslan interpreter jobs in regional towns at risk

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Virtual interpreters, apps and AI are expanding access to Auslan services in regional Australia, where in-person interpreters can be difficult to book.
  • Regional interpreters say agencies increasingly favor cheaper virtual services and live captioning, leaving some without work.
  • Deaf Connect says it prioritizes customers’ preference for in-person interpreters but believes AI will change the sector without replacing human interpretation.

For deaf and hearing-impaired people in regional Australia, virtual services and artificial intelligence are helping fill a long-standing shortage of in-person Auslan interpreters. But the technology is also threatening the small number of interpreters who live and work outside major cities.

The demand [for in-person Auslan interpreters] has always been there, and especially for rural and regional people.

· Cindy MurrayThe regional interpreter described continued demand for face-to-face services.

Cindy Murray, one of the few registered Auslan interpreters in regional Victoria, quit her job earlier this year. She said demand for face-to-face interpreters had always existed, particularly in rural and regional areas, but agencies often refused to pay travel costs or prioritized virtual services instead.

Murray said one agency told her there were no regional jobs. Yet deaf clients told her the same agency had said no interpreter was available when they tried to book one, then offered a virtual interpreter or live captioning. Captioning transcribes spoken conversations in real time, but it does not translate responses from Auslan into spoken language, making it unsuitable in some situations.

I think the lack of interpreters will continue to get worse and worse because of the way we're treated.

· Cindy MurrayMurray warned that current practices could worsen the shortage of interpreters.

Virtual interpreters appear on a screen and translate through a live feed, often at a lower cost than an in-person service. Murray said having more options could help users, but warned that poor treatment of interpreters could deepen the shortage. “I think the lack of interpreters will continue to get worse and worse because of the way we're treated,” she said.

There are some people who like AI. I mean, knock yourself out, if it translates, that's great. But there's a lot of people who don't [like AI]. They want a face-to-face experience.

· Cindy MurrayShe described differing views among users about AI-based interpreting services.

Brent Phillips, chief services officer at Deaf Connect, said the organization prioritizes customer preference. When a customer requests an in-person interpreter, it tries to provide one, and works with the customer on alternatives when none is available. Phillips said AI was changing the field and that Deaf Connect was advising on future sign-language products, but added: “our strong opinion is it will never be a replacement for interpreting.”

our strong opinion is it will never be a replacement for interpreting.

· Brent PhillipsThe Deaf Connect executive said AI would not replace human Auslan interpreters.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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