AI & Translation: A Deeper Look

The Future of Translation Is Here—Are You Ready?

AI isn’t just changing publishing—it’s rewriting the rules of book translation. From speeding up workflows to expanding global reach, AI translation tools are unlocking unprecedented opportunities… and raising new challenges for quality, culture, and creativity.

In this essential session in BISG’s AI and the Book Publishing Industry series, we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the art and business of translating books. You’ll walk away with the insights and strategies you need to harness AI’s potential while safeguarding the literary integrity that readers expect.

What You’ll Learn:

• The state of AI translation technology—what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next
• How to evaluate translation quality with reliable frameworks
• Hybrid human–AI workflows that balance speed with excellence
• Cost-benefit considerations for adopting AI translation tools
• Approaches to cultural adaptation and localization that AI alone can’t deliver
• Quality control methods to ensure accuracy and nuance

Who Should Attend:
Translation rights managers, literary agents, translators, editors, and international publishers—anyone looking to thrive in the new era of AI-powered translation.

Don’t just watch the AI translation revolution from the sidelines—learn how to lead it. Join us and get the tools, knowledge, and confidence to integrate AI into your translation strategy without compromising on quality or authenticity.

Featured Speakers

FRED FREEMAN is an entrepreneur and publishing professional with over a decade of experience growing successful digital-first publishing businesses. As co-founder of Bloodhound Books, he helped build one of the U.K.’s leading independent digital publishers, known for innovation and a reader-first mindset.

Now, he's focused on adventure: GlobeScribe, an AI-powered literary translation service designed to help authors and publishers reach readers around the world. GlobeScribe combines advanced technology with deep publishing expertise to deliver high-quality, fiction-optimized translations faster and more cost-effectively than traditional options, preserving the voice, nuance, and formatting of every book. Fred is passionate about empowering storytellers, expanding access to great fiction, and pushing the boundaries of what publishing can achieve.

THAD MCILROY is a publishing technology analyst and author based in San Francisco. His site, The Future of Publishing, provides in-depth coverage of book publishing industry trends, currently focused on the intersection of AI with book authoring and publishing. He is a contributing editor to Publishers Weekly, covering artificial intelligence and digital innovation. McIlroy’s latest book is The AI Revolution in Book Publishing: A Concise Guide to Navigating Artificial Intelligence for Writers and Publishers, published in July, 2024. A well-established expert in the technology and marketing issues surrounding publishing, he has authored a dozen other books and over 400 articles on these topics.

AI and the Book Publishing Industry Series

BISG's AI and the Book Publishing Industry webinar series brings together publishing professionals and industry leaders to explore the transformative impact AI is having on everything from editorial workflows to marketing strategies. Whether you're a publisher looking to integrate AI tools into your processes, an author curious about how technology can enhance your writing journey, or a thought leader striving to stay ahead of industry trends, this is an unmissable series.

Fall 2025 Sessions

• September 30: AI and Ethics in the Book Industry
• October 28: AI & Translation: A Deeper Look
• November 18: Where AI and the Book Publishing Supply Chain Meet
• December 18: AI & Scholarly Publishing: What Publishers Can Learn from Each Other