"You want to become a translator? But AI can do everything now, can't it?" Clarisse Beretta has lost count of how many times she has heard this kind of remark since she started at the European Institute for Translation Professions (IEMT, part of the University of Strasbourg). The 23-year-old graduated in September 2025 with a master's degree in technical translation. And with, for now, "between €400 and €600 a month in revenue" as a freelance translator specializing in IT, video games and manga, her entry into the job market has not been smooth sailing. "I'm young, and the industry is undergoing a major transformation. It's normal that it takes a few months to earn enough to make a living," she said, with a mix of uncertainty and optimism about the future.
Beretta has grown accustomed to seeing translation listed among the professions most at risk from artificial intelligence (AI) in future-oriented studies. Nearly four years after the arrival of ChatGPT, the profession remains plagued by doubt, as shown by the 2026 edition of the European Language Industry Survey (ELIS) on translation market trends. Only 41% of freelance translators (who make up two-thirds of the profession) believed they had a "sustainable" financial future in the sector, compared with 64% in 2023. This loss of confidence is hitting translators with two to five years of experience the hardest. The report also confirmed a decline in business for many professionals and translation agencies, as well as a drop in rates.
