Employers say AI translation does not replace language skills at work

In short: AI tools can translate words quickly, but many employers still value workers who can speak local languages to build trust and understand culture.

What's going on

AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Translate make it easier to read and write in another language. They can help with basics such as ordering food, following a presentation, or understanding a report.

But a Financial Times report says employers and educators think language skills still matter at work. They argue that translation is not the same as connection, like reading a script is not the same as having a real conversation.

The article describes professionals paying for in-person language courses, including classes run by Education First (EF), which also offers an AI learning platform. One manager at EssilorLuxottica said learning his employer’s language felt like “wearing the jersey” and showing commitment to the company.

People interviewed for the report said businesses want more than correct words. They want “cultural intelligence”, meaning the ability to understand how people in a place communicate and what they expect, which often comes from living, studying, or working abroad.

Language learning apps are also shifting. Preply said technology is changing how people learn, not why they learn. Google has tested Gemini features that create practice phrases and conversations, and the British Council has introduced an AI speaking coach that gives feedback on pronunciation (how words sound).

What to watch

More language products are likely to combine AI with human coaching, and companies may keep treating language learning as a sign of relationship-building skills, not just a way to translate sentences.

Source: Financial Times