Industry Standards Explained
The language services industry is rapidly evolving with artificial intelligence, and professionals are responding by developing clear standards. SAFE AI (Stakeholders Advocating for Fair and Ethical AI in Interpreting) Task Force formed in 2023, bringing together interpreters, translators, language access advocates, service providers, and professional associations, to address this shift.
Their mission is straightforward: establish industry-wide guidelines for ethical use of AI and large language models in interpreting. In June 2024, they delivered the first SAFE AI interpreting guidelines for the industry.
Who Should Follow These Guidelines?
The SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines apply to everyone in the language access ecosystem:
- Policymakers and language access advocates
- Technology companies and language service providers
- Interpreters and interpreting educators
- Organizations that use interpreting services
Whether you’re a hospital administrator, school district leader, court system manager, or business owner serving diverse communities, these guidelines provide practical direction for the responsible adoption of AI interpreting products.
Why SAFE AI Guidelines Matter
SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines protect service quality and integrity as AI tools become more common. They ensure fair treatment for interpreters and transparent service delivery for end users.
Following these guidelines helps organizations avoid misuse, maintain trust, and support ethical communication practices. For businesses serving non-English speakers, adherence demonstrates genuine commitment to equitable access.
The guidelines also help organizations meet compliance requirements while exploring new technologies.
What Organizations Need to Know
Three core principles from the SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines should inform organizational decisions:
AI assists but doesn’t replace qualified interpreters. AI may support simple, low-risk interactions, but professional human interpreters remain essential for complex, sensitive, or high-stakes situations. This includes medical appointments, legal proceedings, emergency services, and confidential business discussions.
Transparency is non-negotiable. Organizations must clearly disclose AI use to service recipients. People deserve to know when AI tools are involved, understand their limitations, and have access to human interpreters when requested.
Equity cannot be compromised. AI performance varies significantly across languages and may inadequately serve individuals who are speakers of rare languages or are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Organizations must ensure their solutions work effectively for all communities, not just those with well-developed AI language models.
What Interpreters Should Know
Professional interpreters need to understand how SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines affect their work:
- Your role is still essential. AI is not replacing human interpreters — it’s being introduced as a tool that can assist in limited ways. The guidance reinforces that qualified human interpreters are critical for accuracy, cultural understanding, ethical judgment, and communication in high-stakes situations.
- You deserve transparency and informed consent, too. Interpreters have the right to know when AI is being used alongside (or in place of) their work. The guidelines support clear communication with interpreters about AI tools, how they’re being deployed, and what impact they may have on the interpreter’s role.
- Your expertise is needed to shape how AI will be used in the future. Human interpreters should be involved in evaluating and developing AI tools, providing real-world insight into what works, what doesn’t, and what’s culturally appropriate. The guidance encourages interpreter voices in the design and oversight of AI systems.
Industry Standards Moving Forward
The SAFE AI Task Force is focused on the continued development of ethical standards for AI in interpreting. Expect ongoing guideline updates, increased community engagement, and stronger accountability measures for AI developers.
The focus remains on ensuring AI supports rather than replacing human interpreters while maintaining safety, transparency, and fairness.
CLI’s Commitment to Responsible Innovation
At CLI, we understand that effective communication requires human expertise, cultural sensitivity, and industry knowledge that machine learning cannot replicate.
The strong network of qualified interpreters we work with demonstrates our commitment to language access. As AI tools emerge, we evaluate them against our standards for quality assurance, security, and service excellence.
We support the SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines because they align with our core belief: language access is a human right. Technology should enhance our ability to serve communities, not compromise the quality they depend on.
Professional Interpreting Services You Can Trust
CLI has provided professional interpreting services since 1996. During this time, we’ve connected organizations with diverse communities through reliable language access solutions. We believe language access is a human right, driving our 24/7 availability in 230+ languages and our commitment to working with interpreters for even the rarest languages.
CLI serves healthcare systems, educational institutions, government agencies, and businesses in sectors such as finance, legal, and insurance. As a woman-run company, we’ve consistently ranked among top U.S. language service providers and earned Inc. 5000 recognition eight times. Our success stems from our commitment to quality and genuine care for the communities we serve. When you choose CLI, you partner with a company that understands the critical importance of accurate cross-cultural communication.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines?
The SAFE AI Task Force created these guidelines in 2024. This group includes interpreters, translators, language access advocates, and service providers. Their diverse expertise helps ensure the guidelines serve all language access stakeholders.
How do SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines affect my organization?
The guidelines are a roadmap for you and your organization to follow while assessing the viability of AI interpreting solutions options for your organization’s needs. If organizations want to use AI as part of their language access plan, they must ensure AI solutions work effectively for all communities they serve. Following these standards can help you do this while maintaining compliance and protecting service quality.
What approach does CLI take toward AI in its interpreting services?
CLI is aligned with the SAFE AI Interpreting Guidelines in the belief that human expertise remains essential for effective interpreting. CLI will continue to assess the viability of AI interpretation tools as opportunities to enhance or expand the service we provide through human interpreters without compromising professional standards.
