Bible Translation and Artificial Intelligence
AQuA and AI Drafting Workshop
For the first time in Southeast Asia, a momentous event has brought together the realms of Bible translation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Wycliffe Bible Translators Philippines (WP) in partnership with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) International hosted the convergence of linguists, data scientists, and Bible translators, through the Augmented Quality Assessment (AQuA) and AI Drafting Workshop, with the common goal of exploring the integration of AI in the Bible translation process.
The AQuA and AI Drafting Workshop set an ambitious goal by providing participants with a foundational understanding of AI and introducing them to transformative tools. Cassy Weishaupt, SIL Data Scientist, introduced AQuA and AI Drafting along with colleagues, Tom Albers, Development Manager of SIL International, and Josh Nemecek, also an SIL Data Scientist. The team helped enable the WP translators to evaluate the effectiveness of the tools especially in drafting and consultant checking. The team also encouraged the WP translators and consultants to help find ways to incorporate the technologies in their translation workflow. Cassy shared that AQuA as a tool for BT is unique, that it visualizes results of the translated scripture as it measures quality.
AQuA as a tool for BT is unique, that it visualizes results of the translated scripture as it measures quality.
Meanwhile, Tom Albers, who on the other hand, facilitated the AI Drafting portion of the workshop, distinguished the difference between AQuA and AI Drafting. He explained that the AI Drafting tool makes drafting faster and AQuA makes its quality better. This is so because AQuA aids the consultant checking process. Tom stressed that the tool does make mistakes but when it does, it is easier to find the mistakes and easy to correct them. He said, “AI learns the language as translators create testament books and match the source they are coming from to match readability”. AQuA, as an enhancement tool, can find even the subtle errors, according to Tom.
Through the initiative of SIL International, the development of this special tool, AQuA, started almost 10 years ago and was aimed at always looking for ways to bring technology to a greater purpose of aiding translation work. The integration of AI and BT is borne of the goal of enhancing the work and making the job faster and more efficient without compromising quality or replacing the human element essential in ensuring exegetical meaning, in the whole translation process.
AI for Oral Bible Translation (OBT) is still being conscientiously worked on and developed
AI for Oral Bible Translation (OBT) is still being conscientiously worked on and developed. Josh Nemecek, also an SIL Data Scientist, led the OBT AI Workshop. He encouraged the Oral Bible translators to help work on the development of the tool that will improve the quality and the speed in translating the Word in oral form. Two of the WP translation teams: I-wak and Bunawanon participated in assessing and enhancing the OBT AI tool by way of sharing their current processes and the technology they are currently using, and by providing suggestions for enhancements based on their experiences in the field.
On the other hand, the privilege to use the tools of AQuA and AI Drafting first-hand was experienced by the language participants from Southern Subanen, Bantayanon, Kalinga Butbut, and Kasiguranin. Sarah Aniban, consultant and workshop facilitator, expressed her delight for WP to be chosen for the pilot workshop. She said, “It is a delight for us to take part in this software development process. We are privileged because we are able to experience the tool first hand, and try it out in our projects, and then share with the developers what we think are very helpful and are needed in the field.”
Breaking the Stigma
Artificial Intelligence replaces humans – this is the idea that the team of developers want to debunk. Artificial Intelligence is not equal to Human Intelligence, and this assures that AI’s intention is just to help enhance and not replace people. They have repeatedly clarified that AI only does what the human mind and heart tell them to do. Without human intelligence, AI is not functional. Tom Albers said that if AI is perceived to be a replacement for people, it is not correct. AI is a tool to be used to help people perform better in their jobs.
Edith Sola, CEO of Wycliffe Philippines, in her Welcome speech at the opening program of the event, pointed out that any tool can be used for the greater good or for wicked intentions. “Just like money, AI is not evil on its own. It is the people who use it that will make it good or evil”, she said. So, rather than allow the technology to be used for purposes other than what is good, BT might as well use it because it is here now whether we like it or not, she expressed. Mrs. Sola also elucidated that If the tool enhances BT work and makes it faster so that we can reach the farthest nooks and crannies of this world with God’s Word, then let us not waste it.
Edith Sola, CEO of Wycliffe Philippines, in her Welcome speech.
The Future of AI and BT
The workshop was diligently attended by approximately twenty-nine (29) BT workers from both Oral and Written BT projects of Wycliffe Philippines. Among them was Jona, MTT of the Bunawanon language and she testified that the tool is indeed useful in a way that it truly helps them finish their work faster and efficiently. On the knowledge gained and the applications of the AI tools, the teams shared that AQuA helps the translators in the assessment of the accuracy, naturalness, and clarity of their work.
Working on the development of OBT AI, Josh amenably added that AI can help the work to be done sooner and with the same or better quality; yet at the end of the process, it is still the BT worker who will assess if the output done with the use of AI is of utmost quality as it should have.
The workshop was diligently attended by approximately twenty-nine (29) BT workers from both Oral and Written BT projects of Wycliffe Philippines.
As we embark on the journey of innovation and development in our relentless pursuit of progress, it is essential to bear in mind that technology reaches its highest potential when harnessed for the greater good and to honor the divine. Ultimately, we should recognize that God’s work unfolds in His own unique way. The path we tread in our pursuit of excellence is a reflection of God’s divine plan. We have been bestowed with the tools to wield, coupled with the profound intelligence gifted faithful workers, all aligned with the divine purpose.
At the end of the day, God’s work is God’s way. He gifted us with means to use and wisdom for His purpose to be accomplished.