Surrey's Centre for Translation Studies (CTS) has revealed a groundbreaking study showcasing the positive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on human cognition, specifically within the realm of language professionals. The research emphasizes the potential for advanced training in real-time human-AI interaction (HAII) to significantly boost working memory and task-switching abilities for interpreters, translators, and subtitlers. The focus of the project centered on Interlingual Respeaking (IRSP), an innovative practice where live subtitles in another language are generated through the collaboration of human experts and speech recognition software.

IRSP demands a high level of cognitive engagement, requiring language professionals to simultaneously translate incoming spoken language, articulate punctuation and content labels orally, and edit speech recognition output into subtitles.A specially designed 25-hour upskilling course on IRSP was conducted as part of the research, involving 51 language professionals. The course aimed to assess its impact on cognition, particularly executive functioning (EF) and working memory (WM), which were measured before and after the training. Dr. Anna-Stiina Wallinheimo, Research Fellow at CTS, highlighted the significance of their findings, stating that "training in new forms of real-time human-AI interaction can enhance the cognitive abilities of language professionals, providing them with a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving industry."

Dr. Elena Davitti, Associate Professor at CTS and Principal Investigator of the project, underscored the increasing reliance on human-AI interaction in the language industry. She commented, "Our research offers valuable empirical insights into the cognitive demands of these complex practices, paving the way for improved upskilling approaches." As AI continues to reshape language-related practices, this study not only underscores the critical role of human-AI collaboration but also emphasizes the need for language professionals to continuously explore and adapt in an ever-evolving field.

The study, part of the broader SMART project (Shaping Multilingual Access through Respeaking Technology), involving Dr. Simon Evans as a Co-investigator and a wider international consortium of academic and industry stakeholders, has been published in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, marking a significant milestone in understanding the evolving dynamics of human-AI collaboration in the language industry.