This presentation by Ela Varošanec Krsnik was delivered during Thinking Literature in Translation in November 2025. It introduces CEATL’s work representing more than 10,000 literary translators through 38 member organisations in 30 countries and presents its research into the effects of generative AI.
The presentation outlines CEATL surveys of individual translators and member associations. They examine attitudes towards AI, changes in workload, declining income, thoughts about leaving the profession and the increasing appearance of assignments involving machine-generated texts. Data from the British Society of Authors is also cited, including reported losses of work and income.
Varošanec Krsnik distinguishes genuine literary translation from the post-editing or extensive reworking of machine output. Respondents are asked to compare these assignments with conventional translation in terms of deadlines, payment, attribution, contractual clarity, quality and workload. Although translators may use AI for research, analysis, proofreading, documentation or dictation, generating an entire literary translation raises creative, practical and legal objections.
The presentation also considers Article 53 of the EU AI Act, licensing preferences and clauses permitting publishers to use translated texts for AI training. It argues that AI policy must recognise the economic and cultural importance of creative professionals while ensuring consent, transparency, fair remuneration and meaningful protection for translators’ work.
