On Localization Talent Drain
It’s genuinely saddening to see new posts about leaving the industry each and every day.
The media localization business has always been rough and exploitative, in a ‘you’re lucky you even get to do this’ way, even before the advent of AI. You had to fight to get a shot or just will one into existence. But even that is better than what we have now.
Experienced labor is getting completely replaced by half-witted autocomplete engines. Newcomers are now yearning for a time when companies salivated to exploit them fresh out of college in exchange for getting their feet wet.
Dinos who’ve been doing this for decades, riding on portfolio recognition they got by virtue of being there first with nothing to show for it in actual skills, are raking it in, riding the AI wave with all their might and hoping to cash out before everything crumbles.
And the mega LSPs responsible for this are seeing the writing on the wall, seeing that their clients are listening to their audiences and pivoting away from AI translation, which is why they’re squeezing the bubble for all it’s worth before it bursts.
Like boomers, they’re toasting to the idea of those who come after them having to clean up or deal with their self-serving choices and having a messy petite mort just thinking about it.
I have zero doubt things will stabilize sooner rather than later. But at what cost? Who’s going to be available and ready to pick up the pieces once this mess sorts itself out?
My heart goes out to those who couldn’t get their chance to do, or didn’t get to continue to do, what they loved. What they were passionate about. What they’re exceptional at.
Whatever’s on the other side, it’s definitely greener.
By Seif Chaib.
Originally posted on Linkedin.