Do Translators Still Have a Place in the One-Click Translation Era?/一鍵翻譯的時代，譯者還有存在的意義嗎？

In the past two years, GPT and other generative AI have surged in popularity. I keep coming across articles about jobs AI has already replaced or is about to replace, and translation almost always makes the list.

It makes me stop and think. I have spent most of my life honing this craft, and now it feels like everything could be wiped away with a single click. Those days spent wracking my brain, trying to get every word just right suddenly seem so fragile. In moments of self-doubt, I can’t help but ask myself: does my work still matter?

I’m still fortunate to receive projects from clients, and I’m truly grateful for that. Yet sometimes I wonder: why don’t they just use GPT? Why pay for human translation at all?

I think the answer lies in the details that AI can never truly reach. Translators can shape words into language that resonates with readers, breathing warmth and humanity into cold text, and capturing the subtle emotions and unspoken tones between the lines. If the ultimate purpose of translation is to touch hearts and spark resonance, then whether it is original translation or the refinement of an AI draft, I believe translators will always play an indispensable role.

Being able to shine in this field is what keeps me moving forward. Even if it’s only the faintest light, as long as someone needs it, I’ll keep going.

在GPT和其他生成式AI興起的這兩年，我讀了許多關於AI已經取代或即將取代各種職業的文章，而翻譯這一行幾乎每篇都榜上有名。想到自己辛苦投入大半輩子的專業，竟然如此輕易被AI取代，那些絞盡腦汁斟酌字句的時光在AI面前變得一文不值，彷彿被一鍵抹除，不禁讓我開始貶低自己，懷疑自己的價值。

每當收到客戶的翻譯委託，心裡除了感動與感謝，也會忍不住好奇：為什麼他們不直接用GPT就好？為什麼還要多花錢找人工翻譯？

我想，或許答案就藏在那些AI無法觸及的細節裡吧。譯者能將文字轉化為貼近讀者的語言，為冰冷的字句注入溫度和人性，捕捉語氣中的細膩情感與弦外之音。如果翻譯的最終目的是讓內容觸動人心、引發共鳴，那麼無論是原創翻譯，還是為AI初稿進行潤飾與把關，我想，譯者始終扮演著不可或缺的角色。

能在這個行業裡發光發熱，是我持續前行的動力，縱使只是一點點微光，只要有需要，我就會堅持下去。