AI vs. Human Translation – When to Use Each

Introduction

Choosing a translation method is one of the first decisions you’ll face when planning a multilingual website. Some businesses rely exclusively on professional translators; others turn to AI because it’s cheap and fast. Jetpack’s translation guide outlines three approaches: manual translation, machine translation and a hybrid combinationjetpack.com. In this article we compare AI and human translation, highlight their strengths and weaknesses and show why a hybrid approach often yields the best results.

AI translation

AI translation uses machine learning models to convert text from one language to another. Tools like Google Translate and DeepL can handle millions of words instantly. The benefits include:

• Speed and scalability – AI can translate entire websites in seconds. This is ideal for large volumes of content or when you need to launch quickly.
• Cost‑effectiveness – mid‑tier AI translation tools start at around £20 per monthtranslatepress.com, making them attractive for small budgets.
• Constant improvement – as AI models learn from more data, quality continues to improve.

However, AI has limitations:

• Nuance and tone – AI sometimes misinterprets idioms, cultural references or industry jargon, leading to awkward phrasingjetpack.com.
• Lack of context – AI may translate a term differently depending on where it appears, causing inconsistency.
• SEO issues – AI doesn’t perform keyword research. Translating keywords verbatim may not align with local search intent.

Human translation

Professional human translators ensure accuracy, cultural relevance and tone. They can adapt brand voice, refine imagery and provide feedback on cultural sensitivities. The downsides are:

• Cost and time – human translation is expensive and slow. Rates range from £20–£40 per hourtranslatepress.com, and translating a large site can take weeks.
• Inconsistency – using multiple translators can lead to variations in terminology unless you manage a translation memory.
• Scalability – launching new languages or updating content requires re‑engaging translators, which can slow growth.

Hybrid translation

A hybrid approach blends AI translation with human review. AI generates initial translations quickly, and professional linguists refine key pages for nuance and accuracyjetpack.com. This method offers the best of both worlds:

• Efficiency – AI handles bulk translation while humans focus on high‑impact content.
• Quality – human editors ensure correct tone and terminology.
• Cost control – because human involvement is targeted, costs are lower than full manual translation.

Choosing the right approach

Your choice depends on content type, budget and timeline. Consider:

1. Brochure sites or product catalogues – AI or hybrid translation is usually sufficient, especially when content is not heavily idiomatic.
2. Marketing pages and ads – require careful wording, so a hybrid approach with human review ensures messaging resonates.
3. Legal or medical content – always involve certified human translators for accuracy and compliance.
4. High‑volume user‑generated content – AI is the only scalable solution, but moderation and context checks are necessary.

Eldris’ approach

Eldris uses a hybrid system by default. We translate all pages automatically and allow you to flag which pages need human review. Our editor lets you adjust translations, and we maintain a translation memory to keep terminology consistent. By combining AI speed with human quality control, we deliver accurate translations at a lower cost than full manual services.

Best practices for hybrid translation

• Define tone and glossary – provide guidelines for translators and AI to ensure consistent voice.
• Prioritise pages – invest human review in pages that drive conversions (home pages, product pages, checkout flows).
• Use translation memory – maintain a database of approved translations to ensure consistency.
• Review performance – monitor conversion rates and bounce rates per language. Adjust translations and wording based on data.

Conclusion & CTA

AI and human translation each have strengths and weaknesses. A hybrid approach leverages both to provide accurate, scalable and cost‑effective translationsjetpack.com. Eldris implements this approach automatically, so you don’t have to manage separate tools or vendors.

Want to see hybrid translation in action? Start your free demo or explore our Pricing to see how affordable global expansion can be.