Is a Translator / Interpreter job safe from AI?

Only partly. A Translator / Interpreter scores 58/100 (medium risk). AI can already handle a meaningful share of the tasks, so the safest path is shifting toward the judgment, relationship, and oversight parts of the role.

When will AI be able to do a Translator / Interpreter's job?

Based on AI's measured task-completion horizon (METR, doubling ~every 4.3 months), AI reaches this role's core complexity ~2.1 years (2028). That projects the capability — actual adoption usually lags it.

How accurate is the Translator / Interpreter AI-risk score?

It's a transparent, computed estimate — directionally useful, not a guarantee. It blends six labor and AI-exposure signals (O*NET, BLS, Eloundou task exposure, AIOE, the Anthropic Economic Index, and physical-automation data). See the methodology page for the full formula.

A Translator / Interpreter carries a 58/100 AI replacement risk (medium). AI can already handle document translation; Live high-stakes interpreting still needs a person. Of exposed work, ~68% is automation vs 32% augmentation. Capability clock: ~2.1 years (2028). (ReplacedYet AI-Risk Index, 2026 data.)

Will AI replace a Translator / Interpreter?

AI replacement risk: 58/100 (medium risk). Moderate exposure — AI automates routine parts; judgment and relationships remain human.

Timeline: 2028–2031. Of the exposed work, roughly 68% is likely to be automated and 32% augmented. $2.6B/yr of US wages sit in highly-exposed work for this role.

AI/software exposure: 75%. Robot/physical-automation exposure: 0%.

Capability clock: AI's measured task horizon reaches this role's core complexity (~306.8h of human work) ~2.1 years (2028) — projected from METR's ~4.3-month doubling.

Pressure Index: 71/100 (high) — blends risk, demand trend, and real-world evidence. Job postings down 42% vs 2020.

AI tools targeting this role

DeepL — high-quality machine translation between languages
Google Translate — instant text and speech translation

Layoff signal: high — Neural machine translation has sharply reduced demand for routine translation work, though specialized and certified interpreting persists.

Then vs. now: the 2013 Oxford study scored this 38%; our 2026 index scores it 58% (a rise of 20 points).

Tasks at risk

Document translation — Machine translation is near-human for many pairs.
Routine localization — AI handles standard content.
Subtitling — Auto-translation + captioning.

Tasks that still need a human

Live high-stakes interpreting — Real-time nuance in legal/medical settings.
Literary / cultural translation — Craft and nuance stay human.

Skills that protect you

Specialized interpreting — Medical/legal/diplomatic.
Post-editing & QA — Supervise machine output.
Cultural consulting — Beyond literal translation.

Safer adjacent careers

Childcare Worker (5%) · Hairdresser (6%) · Nursing Assistant (6%) · Teaching Assistant (6%)

Frequently asked questions

Will AI replace Translator / Interpreters?: A Translator / Interpreter carries a 58/100 AI replacement risk (medium). AI can already handle document translation; Live high-stakes interpreting still needs a person. Of exposed work, ~68% is automation vs 32% augmentation. Capability clock: ~2.1 years (2028). (ReplacedYet AI-Risk Index, 2026 data.)
Is a Translator / Interpreter job safe from AI?: Only partly. A Translator / Interpreter scores 58/100 (medium risk). AI can already handle a meaningful share of the tasks, so the safest path is shifting toward the judgment, relationship, and oversight parts of the role.
When will AI be able to do a Translator / Interpreter's job?: Based on AI's measured task-completion horizon (METR, doubling ~every 4.3 months), AI reaches this role's core complexity ~2.1 years (2028). That projects the capability — actual adoption usually lags it.
How accurate is the Translator / Interpreter AI-risk score?: It's a transparent, computed estimate — directionally useful, not a guarantee. It blends six labor and AI-exposure signals (O*NET, BLS, Eloundou task exposure, AIOE, the Anthropic Economic Index, and physical-automation data). See the methodology page for the full formula.

Category: Language · Methodology · Download the dataset

ReplacedYet AI-Risk Index. Last updated 2026-06-27. AI-estimated and directionally useful, not a guarantee.