AI & Localization 2025 Trends: Acolad's Global Growth Playbook Reveals Key Insights

In recent years it’s been impossible to ignore the impact that AI is having on language and content services - and the wider business world as a whole. The ever-expanding influence of GenAI has already driven significant change and innovation. As we enter 2025, it seems a good moment to stop and consider what may lie ahead on the AI content journey?

That’s why we’ve brought together industry thought leaders and Acolad experts to create our Global Growth Playbook 2025: Trends Shaping International Success.

Drawing from expert perspectives from Nimdzi Insights, Slator, CSA Research, and Acolad's own leadership, the playbook explores critical questions facing businesses today: How will AI transform content creation? What role will human expertise play in an increasingly automated world? How can organizations scale effectively while maintaining cultural nuance?

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the unique insights, but you can discover more by downloading the full ebook here. 

AI: Enhancing, Not Replacing, Human Expertise

While there is debate about how much further AI output quality can advance, most experts agree that in the language and content space, AI is set to augment human capabilities. Industry leaders agree that the winning formula will be Human + AI, with AI tools assisting in tasks like contextual suggestions and automating repetitive work, while, for example, human language experts carry out quality checks or leverage their expertise as prompt engineers.

The Rise of Multimodal Content

2025 is expected to see significant breakthroughs in AI-powered multimedia content localization. The next generation of AI tools will seamlessly integrate text, images, video, and audio localization, making content feel natively crafted for every audience.

Personalization at Scale

AI's cost-effective implementation will enable unprecedented levels of content personalization. Businesses will be able to create and localize more meaningful, resonant content, forging stronger connections with global audiences.

Ethical Considerations and Regulatory Compliance

Within the EU, there's likely to be an increased focus on ethical AI practices. Language service providers will need to ensure transparency and responsibility in AI applications, helping clients comply with new requirements.

Shifting Business Models

Some experts predict a move away from traditional pricing models in language services. Businesses are likely to seek more consultative partnerships, with language service providers taking on the role of linguistic consultants to guide AI implementation strategies.

Quality Improvements Through AI-Powered Automation

AI is set to play a growing role in automatically checking translation quality and automating post-editing tasks. This integration of AI technologies will enable real-time quality checks and improvements in machine translations.

Accelerated AI Adoption

While many organizations adopted a wait-and-see approach in 2024, many experts believe 2025 to be the year of accelerated AI pilots and real rollouts in the language services industry.

Our Global Growth Playbook provides a comprehensive look at these trends and more, offering valuable insights for businesses looking to navigate the evolving landscape of global communication. Download the full resource to gain a deeper understanding of how these trends will impact your international success strategy in 2025 and beyond.