Dutch Publisher to Trial AI for Book Translations

Veen Bosch & Keuning (VBK), the largest publisher in the Netherlands, plans to experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) to translate a limited number of commercial fiction titles into English, The Guardian reported yesterday.

This initiative, confirmed by commercial director Vanessa van Hofwegen, will involve fewer than 10 titles where English rights have not been sold. VBK emphasizes that human oversight will remain integral, with one editing phase post-AI translation.

However, the decision has sparked criticism. Literary translator Michele Hutchison expressed concerns that using AI for commercial fiction implies these works lack creative depth, while David McKay warned that removing translators from the process could lead to misleading translations. Ian Giles from the Society of Authors highlighted that many translators have already lost work due to generative AI.

VBK’s approach, while aimed at efficiency, raises questions about the quality and integrity of translations in the evolving landscape of publishing.