Loc 360 Next-Gen Localization - A Revolution Powered by AI

The Loc 360 event, held in Copenhagen on the 17th, brought together industry leaders like LEGO, Usercentrics, GE, Medicon Valley Alliance, and Sitecore to explore the future of localization and technical communication. The topic, "Next-Gen Localization: Smart Workflows and Connected Content Ecosystems," prompted speakers and attendees to look at AI adoption, with discussions shifting from proof of concept (PoC) to real-world implementation.

The focus during the day was on the immense potential of AI across the entire content lifecycle, from automating quality assurance to revolutionizing information search and content creation. While challenges remain, such as integrating communication experts into IT projects and ensuring data security, the energy in the room was fueled with enthusiasm for AI's potential to transform the industry.

Quality Assurance

AI-assisted quality assurance tools are being integrated into authoring tools and localization systems, improving efficiency and accuracy. 

Information Search and Content Creation
AI is also valuable for technical writers, aiding in research and content generation. 

Challenges in implementation
Convincing IT departments to involve communication experts in AI pilot projects, especially regarding relevant training data, is a common hurdle.

Moving towards Production
As AI adoption matures, topics such as data governance, output quality, and data security become increasingly important.

Next Steps: Explore. Invest. Prioritize.

AI-assisted quality assurance tools are being integrated into authoring tools and localization systems, improving efficiency and accuracy. 

Explore AI-driven solutions
Consider using AI-powered tools for linguistic and machine translation, QE and QA, content generation, retrieval augmented chatbots, and user guidance.

Invest in training data
Ensure that AI models are trained with relevant and high-quality data.

Prioritize data security
Implement robust data governance and security measures to protect sensitive information.

360 Insights

• The growing interest in AI among localization and technical communication professionals.
• Discussions centered around AI applications, especially in terminology extraction and content creation.
• Overall, the tendency is to continue exploring AI solutions and networking opportunities.

The Loc 360 event served as a powerful platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration, proving that AI is no longer a theoretical concept, but a fundamental driver of progress in localization and technical communication. By embracing AI solutions and addressing data governance and security concerns, companies can unlock significant benefits and stay ahead of the curve.