By Anne Chemali
The ATA Language Technology Division (LTD) held ATA TEKTalks 3.3 on December 3rd, 2024, featuring Philippe Mercier, CEO of Wordscope, and AI integrated CAT tool platform that aims to assist translators in enhancing the quality and speed of their services, addressing the growing demand for translation in our globalized world.
About the presenter
Philippe Mercier began his career as an IT consultant and author of a dozen software programming books published by Hachette France. His passion for writing and his expertise in IT quickly led him to the world of translation and software localization, where he participated in numerous projects and held various positions within translation agencies.
Drawing on his experience in IT and his understanding of the challenges faced by translators, he has always strived to develop innovative solutions to meet their specific needs. More recently, he has incorporated the latest advancements in artificial intelligence such as machine translation and ChatGPT into his CAT tool called Wordscope.
The tool aims to empower translators by providing maximum information while maintaining efficiency through seamless integration of multiple technologies.
Highlights of the webinar
Wordscope is a unique Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tool that differentiates itself from conventional solutions.
Many translators fear AI because they see it as one system that can do everything. This is surely not the case. Consider the role of a Project manager working for an agency. His or her job is to find the right translator for a specific job and a specific client. The same applies to AI. Each translator must find the right tool for the right task. Let’s also note that these choices can even be preferential. Just as there are multiple ways to translate a text, several tools can be used to reach a given translator’s goal.
Wordscope has three main advantages:
First, Wordscope comes pre-loaded with comprehensive tools and resources, including terminology databases, synonyms, translation memories, and glossaries, so users don’t start from scratch. In the best possible sense, it is an integrated tool.
Second, it incorporates multiple machine translation (MT) engines simultaneously, allowing translators to compare different translations and choose the expression that they choose as the most appropriate. This approach acknowledges that there isn’t a single “correct” way to translate, just as different translators may better suit different clients’ needs.
Third, Wordscope has built-in AI in its “DNA.” From the beginning, Wordscope was among the first CAT tools to integrate ChatGPT, implementing it through simple action buttons rather than requiring manual copying and pasting or writing complex prompts.
Mercier emphasized the ongoing value of human translators, describing them as “gold” for small agencies and project managers. He encourages translators concerned about AI to develop a specialization—such as healthcare or legal translations—and to focus on building relationships with smaller agencies and direct clients, noting that a tool like Wordscope enables them to handle larger volumes without sacrificing quality. He also argues against the trend of large agencies offering very low rates and relying on automated processes, stating that the relationship between project managers and skilled translators who understand their clients remains crucial.
Interface Demo:
In a demo, Mercier showcased the key features of Wordscope’s CAT (Computer-Assisted Translation) tool interface. The main functionalities demonstrated included:
- Multiple Machine Translation (MT) suggestions are displayed side-by-side, allowing translators to compare different versions and double-click to select the best one.
- A tracking system that compares different translations helps translators quickly spot differences and pick the best option.
- Integrated ChatGPT functionality with pre-built action buttons for common tasks, including:
– Translation suggestions
– Word/phrase explanations
– Alternative word suggestions
– Proofreading function - Advanced proofreading capabilities that:
– Check if translations are faithful to the source text
– Verify numerical accuracy
– Ensure proper terminology is used
– Flag missing terms or concepts - Integration with glossaries and terminology databases that:
– Connect automatically with both ChatGPT and DeepL
– Highlight official terms in green
– Flag when official terminology isn’t properly used
– Can incorporate private glossaries for custom needs - Regarding customization, Wordscope allows users to:
– Select which tools to enable/disable
– Customize the interface for different users
– Handle standard translation-proofreading-teamwork workflows
– Share and outsource projects in parts or as a whole
The use of conventional machine translation and GPT models simultaneously presents advantages if we are clear about their respective roles. Traditional MT engines provide consistent translations, while ChatGPT offers variable outputs and can follow style instructions. Wordscope primarily uses conventional MT for translations while employing ChatGPT as an assistant for refinements and specific queries.
Data Privacy
Regarding data privacy and confidentiality, Wordscope implements several security measures:
- Uses only paid professional versions of tools like DeepL and ChatGPT
- Processes queries through Wordscope’s servers using company subscriptions rather than personal API keys
- Sends only small text segments at a time
- Mixes data from hundreds of simultaneously logged-in users for additional security. For handling personally identifiable information (PII), Philippe recommends performing a manual anonymization with a simple find-and-replace rather than using AI-based anonymization tools.
Wordscope learning curve
The learning curve is described as minimal, with users able to start translating within minutes thanks to pre-configured settings and a drag-and-drop interface. More advanced features like project sharing and file splitting may require additional training.
Wordscope in numbers
Pricing is subscription-based with three tiers:
- Bronze: Free tier with limited features (3 projects per month)
- Silver: $39/month
- Gold: $59/month
All subscriptions include MT and ChatGPT usage, and the tool is cloud-based, requiring no local installation or powerful hardware.
Chances are that the subscription will quicky pay for itself. One case study mentioned a translator who doubled her turnover after adopting Wordscope, as AI allowed her to translate more without lowering her rates.
Q&A from the audience
Q: Can you let us know what measures are in place in your system that could help translators prevent, identify, and rectify AI hallucinations or other inaccuracies?
A: We observe very few hallucinations in practice with wordscope. Hallucinations have two main causes: lack of context and lack of specific data. Wordscope helps prevent hallucinations by providing context to the AI tools and by including terminology (including private terminology when connected).
Q: What customization options does Wordscope offer?
A: Users can:
- Select which tools to enable/disable
- Customize the interface for different users
- Handle standard translation-proofreading-teamwork workflows
Q: Is Wordscope exclusively browser based? Is there any offline version that people could download and use without being connected to the internet?
A: No. it is an online platform, and you can log in from any device, Mac or PC.
Q: Which languages does Wordscope support? Does it support Right to left languages, for instance?
A: Wordscope supports all the languages supported by the tools it connects to the project. We currently have users in over 40 countries around the world.
Q: Since Wordscope uses pro-only third-party AI services, it still relies on those tools, security and privacy capabilities, which means you don’t have full control of the privacy. Is this correct.
A: Yes, that is correct.
Q: What types of documents can we upload to Wordscope? Can the platform process the usual range that the other CAT tools support or are there any notable additions or notable limitations?
A: All standard file formats are supported.
Q: Can a user import their own TM or termbase into the system?
A: Yes, through standard exchange formats.
Q: Does Wordscope have a term extraction feature?
A: No, but ChatGTP does. We inserted a button that leverages ChatGPT capability for term extraction.
Q: Do you offer any function that would allow splitting large projects and still maintaining
consistency throughout the documents?
A: We certainly have a possibility to split large projects. And because all the system is online, including translation memory etc, as soon as one user enters a translation it will be available in real time to all other users in the project wherever they are. This is because the translation memory would be updated online.
Q: Does Wordscope have connectors to other software, like WorkFront, Legacy or website connectors, for requestors to just push a button or two from that software to send into Wordscope and then once finished in Wordscope goes back inside to the connected software with the finished product?
A: No, we currently do not have such connectors.
Q: Even if your query remains anonymous, a sentence from a client will become part of the corpus…
A: Data will NOT become part of the corpus for PRO versions. For example, here is OpenAI’s statement: ‘We do not train on API, ChatGPT Enterprise, and ChatGPT Team customer data by default.’
Q: Does AI machine translation incorporate glossaries/term base the translator saved?
A: In Wordscope all tools are connected. When a segment is opened, Wordscope searches only within the private glossaries attached to the project for terms found in that segment. These specific terms (not the entire glossary, and only entries from private glossaries) are then sent to DeepL and ChatGPT to enhance the quality of translation suggestions.
Q: What is the license cost for freelancers? In addition, do you provide the software for educational use or at a steep discount for educational use?
A: Please visit the page for full details about our subscription plans. You can use the coupon ATA2024 to get 40% off Silver and Gold Subscriptions.
Q: What are the differences between RWS Language Weaver and Wordscope if any?
A: Wordscope is an independent CAT Tool.
More information
Visit Wordscope’s website or try Wordscope directly.
Wordscope frequently organizes webinars and training sessions. Please check Wordscope’s event calendar for specific dates.
This post was produced by humans and Claude, a next-generation AI assistant.