What are the pros and cons of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference?

1 Benefits of AI-powered transcription and translation

One of the main advantages of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they can save you a lot of time and money. You don't have to hire professional transcribers or translators, or wait for them to deliver the transcripts or translations. You can also avoid the hassle of distributing and collecting paper or digital copies of the materials. Instead, you can use online platforms or apps that can provide instant or near-instant transcription and translation of your speakers' presentations, Q&A sessions, and audience interactions. This can make your conference more efficient and convenient for everyone involved.

Another benefit of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they can increase participation and feedback from your attendees. By providing them with the option to access the content in their preferred language and format, you can make your conference more inclusive and diverse. You can also encourage them to ask questions, share opinions, and give feedback in real time or after the event, using the same platforms or apps that provide the transcription and translation. This can enhance the engagement and interaction of your conference, and help you gather valuable insights and data.

A third benefit of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they can help you reach a wider audience. By making your conference content available in multiple languages and formats, you can attract and retain more attendees from different countries, regions, and backgrounds. You can also expand your online presence and visibility, by sharing your transcripts and translations on your website, social media, or other channels. This can increase your impact and influence, and generate more interest and opportunities for your conference topic and goals.

2 Drawbacks of AI-powered transcription and translation

One of the main disadvantages of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they may not be as accurate and reliable as human transcribers and translators. AI-powered services rely on algorithms and data to process speech and text, but they may not be able to capture the context, tone, emotion, humor, sarcasm, slang, idioms, acronyms, or technical terms of your speakers and attendees. They may also make mistakes, such as mishearing, mistranslating, omitting, or adding words or sentences. These errors can affect the quality and clarity of your conference content, and cause confusion or misunderstanding among your audience.

Another drawback of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they may pose some technical and ethical challenges. AI-powered services require a stable internet connection, a compatible device, and a user-friendly interface, but these may not be available or accessible for everyone. You may also need to obtain consent from your speakers and attendees to record and transcribe their speech, and to comply with data protection and privacy laws and regulations. You may also need to consider the cultural and social implications of using AI-powered services, such as the potential bias, discrimination, or manipulation of the content or the audience.

A third drawback of using AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference is that they may reduce the human touch and nuance of your event. AI-powered services may not be able to convey the personality, style, passion, or charisma of your speakers, or the subtlety, diversity, or complexity of their messages. They may also not be able to foster the rapport, trust, or empathy between your speakers and attendees, or the sense of community, belonging, or identity among your audience. These factors can affect the emotional and social aspects of your conference, and diminish its value and impact.

3 Tips for choosing and using AI-powered transcription and translation services

If you decide to use AI-powered transcription and translation services for your conference, it’s important to do thorough research to compare different platforms and apps that offer these services. Test them beforehand with your speakers and attendees to make sure they work well with their devices, languages, accents, and topics. During your conference, provide clear instructions on how to access and use the services and make sure there’s technical and customer support available in case of any issues. Monitor and evaluate the performance and quality of the services during and after your conference. Collect feedback from speakers and attendees on the usefulness, effectiveness, and satisfaction of the services. Finally, review the results of using the AI-powered transcription and translation services after your conference to identify strengths and weaknesses so you can improve them for future conferences.

4 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?