Why you should beware the uncanny valley of AI translation

In 2019, I interpreted for the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, at the Sustainability Summit hosted by the Economist. So it was very surreal to recently watch a video of Brugnaro explaining a new tourist tax for visitors to Venice, while speaking in a broad New York accent, with the faintest twang of Italian.

Has Brugnaro become a fluent English speaker in the past five years? No, the video had been dubbed using AI. Hearing Brugnaro enunciating like Al Pacino in The Godfather was so bizarre.

People often ask if I worry about the impact of AI on my business as an interpreter, but it’s all about context.

If you need to translate a menu at a restaurant on holiday, for example, AI is a very useful tool. But in a professional setting such as a contract negotiation, where the stakes are so much higher, it would be risky to trust AI to capture the complex nuances of communication. A mistranslated phrase could be costly.

For in-person meetings and conferences, the warmth, expressiveness, and dynamism of a skilled interpreter also far surpass the current capabilities of AI.

AI might work better for dubbing a scripted advertisement recorded in a studio, but it feels a little… creepy to me.

It’s the ‘uncanny valley’ effect – that unsettling feeling we experience when encountering something that appears almost – but not quite – human.

That sense of unease detracts from the message Brugnaro is trying to communicate about his attempt to preserve Venice for future generations.

As AI-generated content becomes prevalent, I think we’ll all value the authenticity of human communication more than ever – especially in business. Do you agree?

An insider’s guide to visiting Paris

When I travel for pleasure, as I hope to this summer for the Olympics – I love to seek out new places and experiences.

Since moving to Paris, my daughter has shown me many wonderful cafes, restaurants, and boutiques she has discovered, so I thought I’d share some of the Parisian gems we’ve enjoyed together recently:

My favourite street/neighbourhood in Paris is the Marais because it blends historic charm with a vibrant contemporary scene

Merci, a wonderful boutique selling unique home decor and fashion.

The hippest spot to enjoy a morning espresso is Café Le Carousel at 194 Rue de Rivoli, beside Jardin des Tuileries.

Afterwards, I’d stroll through the gardens to Musée de L’Orangerie, a small gallery of impressionist and post-impressionist work, including eight large Water Lilies murals by Claude Monet.

Le Comptoir du Relais is a charming restaurant in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, you must try the duck confit.

Musée Rodin is not on the usual tourist trail but is worth visiting because it offers stunning sculptures and peaceful gardens.

I also love strolling around the Jardin de Luxembourg.

And if you’re a fashionista like me, you simply can’t miss the dazzling boutiques of Chanel and Christian Dior at Place Vendôme. It’s practically a rite of passage!

Do you have any recommendations for favourite spots in Paris? I’d love to hear them.

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The book that’s helping me transform my work-life balance

A friend of mine, Ros, recently gave me a copy of Ryan Holiday’s book ‘Discipline is Destiny’, which discusses the power of willpower, moderation and self-control to improve our lives through the lens of Stoic philosophy.

Although I’m very disciplined in my professional life, I’ve always found it challenging to consistently maintain healthy habits, like avoiding working late at night, eating well, and keeping up with exercise.

This book has been a great help, along with a tip Ros shared with me, which I will share with you here.

She told me to imagine a young version of myself sitting beside me. She asked me: “How would you care for ‘Little Luciana?’”

Of course, I replied that I’d care for her like I did my children when they were young, cooking them nutritious meals and ensuring they got enough sleep.

“Ok,” said Ros, “So what you need to do is care for Big Luciana, as well as you’d care for Little Luciana!”.

It seems so simple, but this mindset shift has really helped me stick to healthier self-care habits.

I’m drinking lots more water during the day, doing pilates and boxing with a personal trainer and I’ve been trying to step away from my desk for a twenty-minute walk outside after every meal.

If you’d like a taster of Ryan Holiday’s work, he shares 25 habits that will guarantee success in this blog post adapted from his book.