Localization Today

By  Hani Alotaibi In Saudi Arabia, translation and interpreting education is being reshaped by workforce policy, with curriculum reform and graduate employability increasingly treated as measurable institutional obligations. This article delves into how some of the country’s universities are tackling this transformation.

By  Hani Alotaibi Language access in Saudi Arabia has evolved through a sequence of policy interventions that have positioned language as a functional pillar of broader institutional transformation. By integrating language access into governance structures and public service design, these policies aim to better serve non-Arabic speakers and to provide employment opportunities for Saudi nationals.

By  Abdulrahman Alsayed Founded in 2019, the Saudi Arabia Translation Association (SATA) serves as a hub for the nation’s linguists, linking professional practice to the wider cultural landscape. Through educational resources and outreach activities, the organization aims to empower translators to be active agents in the production of meaning.

By  Abdulrahman Alsayed In Saudi Arabia, translation has moved from an auxiliary service to a defining element of a broad national transformation, reflecting a change in how culture and knowledge are understood in the Kingdom. This article outlines the Saudi translation sector’s new structure and its role in strengthening the country’s presence on the global stage.

Saudi Arabia and the localization of gaming and esports By  Amer Qobti Fueled largely by its young population and the multibillion-dollar National Gaming and Esports Strategy, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a global gaming and esports hub. The author details the essential role that localization plays in driving this growth.

What began as a search for peers in a male-dominated field has grown into a global powerhouse of over 18,000 members. In this episode, Anna N Schlegel,  co-founder of Women in Localization and author of Truly Global,  joins us to explore how leadership, community, and visibility have fundamentally transformed the language industry over the last 19 years.  The conversation digs deep into the future...

Vamos Juntos association is transforming the language services landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are joined by Carol Velandia , Cristina Barbier , and Indy Vega to discuss the evolution of the association, the power of "coopetition," and the upcoming Vamos Juntos 2026 event in Buenos Aires . 

Inclusion isn't just a social value, it’s a growth strategy. Joshua Pennise , the new President of the Association of Language Companies (ALC) , joins us to explain why the industry must shift its narrative from “compliance” to “economic multiplier.” In this episode, we discuss the ALC’s critical advocacy work against irresponsible AI legislation, the convergence of sign and spoken language sector...

In this episode, Sudheen M , President of CITLoB , reveals the massive potential of India’s “language locked”  economy . We explore why reaching these untapped consumers requires more than just translation—it requires deep community collaboration and competition. Sudheen shares insights on India's digital infrastructure, the strategic role of associations like CITLoB, and why the physical connecti...

Meet last year’s awardees, including STAR Award winner Nadja Ruhl By  Uma Kulkarni Women in Localization (WL)’s 2025 Kudos and STAR Award winners are some of the organization’s most standout volunteers. In this article, WL celebrates their indispensable contributions that inspire excellence and help propel the organization forward.

The evolution of the African Languages Conference By  Mimi Moore   This article recounts the establishment, rapid growth, and future goals of the AFLC conference, which was co-founded by Avishta Seeras and Ady Namaran Coulibaly to address the lack of African voices in global language spaces.

Interview by  Cameron Rasmusson As Verizon’s head of localization, Megan Sharp ensures its customers receive the same service quality no matter where they live or what language they speak. In this interview, she discusses the career path that led her here, her predictions for the future of localization management, and what motivates her to do her best work every day.

How the language industry can talk more honestly about AI By  Domenico Lombardini The author argues for using history and data to evaluate AI’s impact as objectively as possible, including acknowledging the tradeoffs it brings. He concludes by advocating for revamped linguistic training programs that equip young people with tools to compete on value, not price.

By  Carol Velandia   The author argues that providing language access more evenly throughout the world depends on recognizing it as a civil right, co-designing solutions with communities most affected by language barriers, and providing stable funding and business models for language access work.

Machine translation is about "dynamic prompting" and hybrid workflows. In this episode, we sit down with Ágnes Varga (CTO) and Gábor Bessenyei (Product Manager) from memoQ to discuss their 2025 CODiE Award win for Globalese . We explore how memoQ bridged its MT gap by integrating Globalese, why the industry is moving toward risk-based quality assessment, and why the future of the linguist lies in...

Language services offered steady consolidation opportunities in 2025 By  Jonathan Otis Compared with the wider mergers and acquisitions market, the language industry stands out for its moderate growth, fragmented markets, and global footprint. In 2025, much of the localization business saw steady returns while operating largely out of the limelight.

How the facade finally cracked By  Veronica Hylak The article lists the top 10 AI developments in 2025, arguing that this was a year of plateau in AI innovation. The focus shifted from infinite growth to making technology usable, dependable, and aligned with human work.

By  Suzanne-Rose Griveau Noting how AI is transforming the software-as-a-service (SaaS) industry, the author offers seven best practices for SaaS localization workflows — emphasizing that success isn’t about simply accumulating tools, but about fundamentally redesigning processes.

Adam Bittlingmayer, CEO and co-founder of Modelfront, unpacks what it really means to use AI to check and gate AI — deciding which machine translations can safely skip human review and which absolutely cannot. We talk about the billions of people who still can’t access English-only content, why post-editing hasn’t delivered the promised efficiencies, how quality prediction changes the economics of...

This December, one of the industry's most technical events returns. Konstantin Dranch, founder of CustomMT, gives us an inside look at the GenAI in Localization online conference. We explore its “nerdy” and “realist” approach, which substitutes marketing hype for practical, hands-on workshops. He reveals the 2025 program's focus: moving beyond potential to showcase 12 real, operationalized GenAI s...

In this episode, we explore how SOC 2 is actively redefining what "trust" means in translation technology. Adam Klar, CISO at memoQ , provides a candid look at the "overwhelming" journey to achieving Type 1 certification. He breaks down the critical difference between a Type 1 "snapshot" and a Type 2 "period-in-time" audit, explains why a GRC platform is essential for success, and makes the case f...

The language industry is evolving to  Language Intelligence and n this episode, Bruno Herrmann, Vice Chairman of LT Innovate, to unpack this critical concept. He explains how AI, language data, and human expertise must converge to create real business value . Explore how new roles are emerging for language professionals in data management and AI training, and get an exclusive preview of the Langua...

How partnerships between language companies and sports teams enable inclusivity By  Scott Swanson For sports fans who are Deaf or who speak a language other than the primary one used in the stadium, the sensory richness of a live game is diminished without dedicated support. The author challenges sports organizations to embrace comprehensive language services in order to truly connect with their e...

By  Claudio Fantinuoli The author argues that future AI interpreting systems will learn from not only human-generated examples, but also their own experience interacting with environments, generating data, and discovering solutions beyond existing human knowledge.

By  Johan Botha African language service providers don’t need to catch up — they can leap ahead. The author argues that Africa’s specialized language models, culture of collaborative entrepreneurship, and emphasis on human-centric design can launch the continent to the forefront of the localization industry.