Artificial Intelligence Translation (AIT) – the big umbrella

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science focused on making computers and machines “smart”— making them capable of learning, reasoning, and solving problems like humans.
  • Artificial Intelligence Translation (AIT) is any translation done using artificial intelligence — this includes older rule-based systems, statistical models, and newer neural approaches.
  • The techniques used could be one of:
    • Rule-Based Machine Translation (RBMT): which uses grammar rules and dictionaries.
    • Statistical Machine Translation (SMT): which is based on probabilities and aligned text corpora.
    • Neural Machine Translation (NMT): which uses modern deep learning–based models.
  • AIT is a general category which includes NMT and older, less advanced methods.

 

Machine Translation (MT) — a subfield of AIT

  • Machine Translation (MT) is any technology that automatically translates text or speech from one language to another language using computational methods.
  • The techniques used include:
    • Rule-Based MT (RBMT)
    • Statistical MT (SMT)
    • Neural MT (NMT) Goal: Break language barriers using algorithms.

 

Neural Machine Translation (NMT) — a subfield of MT

  • Neural Machine Translation (NMT) is the most advanced form of machine translation
    using deep learning and neural networks.
  • It is a specific type of AI translation which uses neural networks, especially deep
    learning, to translate text in a more fluent, context-aware way.
  • It was introduced between 2014 and 2016, and quickly replaced SMT on the top internet platforms (such as Google Translate, Microsoft Translator and DeepL).
  • Strengths:
    • It handles long-range context better.
    • provides more natural and fluid translations,
    • is better at idioms and complex grammar.
  • Advantages:
    • Understands context better.
    • More fluent and natural translations.
    • Learns from massive datasets (i.e., millions of translated sentences).

 What are Neural Networks

A neural network is a computer program designed to work like the human brain. It learns by adjusting connections between artificial “neurons” based on examples (data). It is inspired by how a human brain has billions of neurons connected by synapses.

  • Made of:
    • Input Layer: takes in data (like pixels of an image or words in a sentence).
    • Hidden Layers: processes and transforms the information through math and weighting processes.
    • Output Layer: produces a result (like recognizing a cat in a photo or translating a sentence).
  • Learning:
    • Neural networks improve themselves over time by making guesses, checking if they’re wrong, and adjusting their internal connections to do better next time — a process called “training”.

What is Deep Learning?

Deep Learning It is a type of machine learning in which computers use very large, complex neural networks to learn from very large amounts of data.

Deep learning = Neural networks with many layers, designed to handle really complicated tasks by learning from vast amounts of data.

  • “Deep” means that it has many hidden layers between input and output — not just one or two, but possibly dozens or even thousands!
  • More layers means that the network can learn more complex patterns.

Why use deep learning? Because simple models can’t handle complicated stuff like:

  • Understanding natural language (like translation or conversation).
  • Recognizing objects in photos.
  • Playing video games at a superhuman level.

Examples:

  • ChatGPT (understanding language).
  • Self-driving cars (seeing and reacting to the road).
  • Netflix recommendations (predicting what you’ll like).

Quick Relationship:

Term What it means
Machine Learning Teaching computers to learn from data.
Neural Networks A method within machine learning that mimics the brain.
Deep Learning Neural networks, but much bigger and deeper!

 

AZ World Translation has used Neural Machine Translation for several years.

If you need to bridge the language divide and connect with a broader audience, contact us at info@a-zworld.ca or visit www.a-zworld.ca the AZ World team will be happy to assist you.