AI-based DeepL is different
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So says DeepL CEO Jarek Kutylowski.
"DeepL translation targets Taiwan as next key Asian market: CEO says AI-based model is aiming to refine nuances, politeness", Steven Borowiec, Nikkei staff writer (September 16, 2024)
DeepL Write is one thing, DeepL Translator is another. We've examined both on Language Log and are aware that the former is already deeply entrenched as a tool for composition assistance, but are less familiar with the special features of the latter.
The article by Borowiec, based on his interview with CEO Jarek Kutylowski, begins with some not very enlightening remarks about the difference between simplified characters on the mainland and traditional characters on Taiwan, attesting to the truism that CEOs and CFOs often don't know as much about the nitty-gritty technicalities of the products they sell as do the scientists and specialists they hire to make them.
The article then focuses on the business aspects of DeepL, where Kutylowski is on much firmer ground, when he tells us how many hundreds of millions of dollars investment DeepL's translation software has attracted and how many billions of dollars of valuation it has achieved.
When the conversation turns to more general concepts of different approaches to machine translation, I perked up and was all ears.
I have often exclaimed how remarkably good Google Translate is, and I'm absolutely astonished at how many different languages it can translate to and from, but DeepL is aspiring to give it a run for the money.
Selected readings
- "How to say 'AI' in Mandarin" (9/17/24)
- "DeepL Translator" (2/16/23) — lengthy post that gives a detailed demonstration of how DeepL works in comparison with Google Translate, WeChat, and a human being (linguist-Sinilogist)
- "Uh-oh! DeepL in the classroom; it's already here" (2/22/23)
- "Competing chatbots" (7/19/23)
- "Google Translate is even better now" (9/27/16)
- "Google Translate is even better now, part 2" (5/12/22)
- "Google is scary good" (7/31/17)
[Thanks to Don Keyser]
Chester Draws said,
September 18, 2024 @ 4:03 pm
I use Google Translate, DeepL and the Microsoft equivalent regularly out of Russian and Polish.
DeepL is the best of the three, and MS the worst, in my opinion.
What is interesting is how when DeepL gets in a tangle that Google Translate often doesn't and vice versa. Clearly they are using quite different methods.
They are also clearly improving.
AntC said,
September 18, 2024 @ 9:20 pm
I have often exclaimed how remarkably good Google Translate is, …
You have; and I plain don't understand why. I agree with @Chester that DeepL translate is usually the better — when they differ.
I'm not referring to translation of literary works and fancy flourishes. But quotodien tourist/traveller practicalities. Too often the alleged translation (to/from English/traditional script Chinese) gives blank incomprehension. I keep to plain declarative sentences/questions AFAP, no subclauses or heavy use of pronouns. I try to avoid words i know to be polysemous. (Also I have to constantly beware autocorrect: no, 'polygamous' would make no sense there, stupid.)
They might be "improving". That doesn't yet make them fit for purpose.