17 Sep We’ve got exciting news: Okomeds introduces Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)
Artificial intelligence has also made its way into the world of translation, and at Okomeds, we’ve sought to harness its full potential without losing sight of something fundamental: human judgment and experience.
That’s why we’re jumping on the Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) bandwagon—a new service that combines the capabilities of AI with oversight by human translators and experts. The goal is to make the most of this technology, but always with the help of professionals who can guide the process, review the translation, and ensure the quality of the text. In this way, we minimize the risks associated with the use of AI when it’s employed without proper oversight.
Because, although artificial intelligence can be a very useful tool, it can also be risky when people don’t know how to use it properly. And when it comes to medical translation, entrusting a text solely to a machine without any human oversight can have consequences that aren’t always obvious to those unfamiliar with the industry. After all, if we wouldn’t trust an airplane flown solely by a machine without any human supervision, why should we trust it with our texts?
Added to all of this is one essential aspect: confidentiality. With Human-in-the-Loop, we guarantee the confidentiality of documents—something that other online translation engines do not necessarily offer.
What is Human-in-the-Loop?
More and more companies are turning to artificial intelligence to translate their content. And it’s no wonder: AI makes it possible to work quickly, reduce costs, and handle workloads that, until recently, might have been difficult to manage.
Human-in-the-Loop (HITL) offers those same advantages, but incorporates one essential element: the involvement of a professional who supervises the process and makes the necessary decisions. This way, we don’t just let AI decide on its own how a translation should be handled; instead, we put the technology at the service of human judgment.
This allows us to take into account aspects that an automated tool might overlook, such as cultural context, tone, brand identity, or the use of terminology found in specific glossaries. AI provides speed and processing power; human experts provide knowledge, judgment, and oversight.
What are the phases of a typical translation project using Human-in-the-Loop?
Phase 1: Receipt and Analysis of the Order
The process begins long before a document is fed into an artificial intelligence tool. When we receive an assignment, our team reviews the material to determine whether it’s actually suitable for translation using AI. Not all texts can or should be translated using artificial intelligence, so if the content isn’t suitable for this type of process, we’ll recommend an alternative that best suits your needs.
We’ll also discuss how the document should be prepared before it is processed. It’s not always enough to copy the content of a PDF and paste it directly into an AI tool. The format, layout, or presence of non-editable elements may affect the final result.
That’s why our project managers analyze the details of each project, identify the client’s specific needs, evaluate the quality of the layout, and identify potential risks or technical requirements that could cause problems during subsequent phases.
In addition, they determine which parts of the document should be translated and which should stay as they are. For example, what happens if a graphic contains text that needs to be translated, but it’s not in an editable format and the AI can’t detect it? These types of situations are identified during the preliminary analysis to ensure that no content is left out of the translation process.
The team also verifies whether the translation must meet any specific requirements set out by the agency or organization that will receive it, if any.
In short, our team has already been hard at work before artificial intelligence steps in. We analyze the document, anticipate potential challenges, and lay the groundwork so that the technology can work as effectively as possible. Indeed, we use AI, but we don’t give it free rein: we guide and monitor it to ensure the best possible translation and minimize risks.
Phase 2: Preparing the Environment
Once the budget has been approved, preparations for the translation process get underway. At Okodia, we don’t always use the same machine translation engine; instead, we go for the one that best suits the characteristics and needs of each text.
Not all engines work the same way or offer the same features, so it’s important to choose the one that’ll get the job done properly: each has its own unique characteristics, and some are better suited than others to certain types of text.
Once the engine has been selected, we also prepare the instructions that the AI will receive. Depending on each client and each document, we define the prompts needed to ensure the translation aligns with the corporate tone and level of formality we’re aiming for.
We can also include specific glossaries so that the AI uses certain terms and not others. This way, we ensure that the terminology the client requires is used consistently and that the translation adheres to consistent standards.
In short, we don’t let AI decide which direction to take: we map out the path it should follow in advance and provide it with the necessary guidance to ensure the best possible result.
Phase 3: Production
With the environment set up and the guidelines defined, the machine translation engine generates a first draft of the text following the instructions provided by the project managers.
But the process doesn’t end there. A professional translator reviews and oversees the AI’s output to ensure that the translation meets quality standards and the specific needs of the project.
During this review, the translator verifies that the vocabulary used is appropriate, that the tone matches the type of text, and that both the style and terminology remain consistent throughout the entire document. It also analyzes potential errors or cultural nuances that machine translation might miss and decides, on a case-by-case basis, which term is most accurate given the specific context.
Finally, the translator verifies that the translation complies with the guidelines set out by the client at the start of the project. Thus, human intervention makes it possible to correct, adjust, and validate the proposal generated by the AI before finalizing it.
Phase 4: Quality Control
Once the professional translator has reviewed and approved the translation, our PMs carry on with the process. In this final stage, the necessary checks are performed to identify any issues that may have been overlooked: terminology errors, double spaces, agreement issues, inconsistencies, or any other formal issues.
But quality control is not limited to reviewing specific aspects of the text. After these checks, we perform a general review of the document to confirm that all requirements and specifications set out by each client have been met.
As a final step, we also review the document’s formatting and layout. The goal is for the final file to not only be linguistically correct, but also to be delivered to the client with carefully crafted, flawless formatting.
Confidentiality: The Ultimate Major Advantage
Human oversight and risk reduction are not the only advantages of Human-in-the-Loop. There’s another particularly important aspect to consider when working with documents that contain sensitive information: data confidentiality.
The document is used solely to provide the translation service. Furthermore, when working with our translation engines, the content is not stored or used to train the translation engine itself.
This means that none of the information contained in the document—neither the original text nor the translation—is transmitted. In this way, Human-in-the-Loop makes it possible to take full advantage of all the potential of AI while keeping under control one of the aspects that most concerns companies when they use these types of tools: the security and confidentiality of their content.
FAQs
What’s the difference between working with the Human-in-the-Loop approach and relying on AI?
The main difference lies in human intervention. In a process based solely on AI, the tool merely translates the text, without any human intervention to review the translation, make decisions, or perform additional checks.
With HITL, on the other hand, AI is supported by professionals who guide it throughout the process and review the final translation. This makes it possible to take into account factors that go beyond machine translation and require professional judgment.
In addition, Okomeds’ services include an additional guarantee as part of this process: the confidentiality of documents.
Is the confidentiality of the files protected?
Yes. The document is used solely to provide the translation service and is not stored in any way. Therefore, the confidentiality of the files is fully guaranteed.