When Microsoft researchers analyzed 200-000 real-world AI conversations- they made a surprising discovery: interpreters and translators have the highest AI applicability score of any profession studied — 0.492- topping writers- historians- and journalists. This isn't just a statistic; it's a validation of what we've long known and a roadmap for how we shape AI's role in our work.

The Study That Put Interpreters at the Top

Researchers from Microsoft analyzed actual usage patterns- not predictions or surveys- by examining anonymized conversations with Bing Copilot. They mapped each interaction to specific work activities using the O*NET database- then calculated an "AI applicability score" for occupations based on how successfully and broadly AI assists with or performs those tasks.

The result? Interpreters and Translators scored 0.492- the highest among all occupations measured. For context:

Writers and Authors: 0.454
Historians: 0.462
Journalists: 0.383
Data Scientists: 0.357

This ranking reflects how deeply our profession centers on the very work AI excels at: information work — the creation- processing- and communication of information.

Two Ways AI Works With Us (Not Just For Us)

The study's most practical insight is its distinction between how humans and AI interact in conversations:

User goals: When we use AI to assist our tasks (e.g.- AI helping us research terminology or check glossary consistency)
AI actions: When AI performs tasks in service of our requests (e.g.- AI generating a draft explanation of a concept for us to refine)

For interpreters- high scores in both categories mean we're positioned to benefit from AI in two distinct but complementary ways:

As augmented practitioners: Using AI to handle information-heavy prep work (drafting glossaries- researching context) while focusing our human skills on nuance- cultural mediation- and real-time interaction As AI supervisors: Guiding AI to perform discrete tasks (like generating plain-language summaries) that we then validate- contextualize- and deliver

This mirrors how word processors didn't eliminate typists — they transformed typing from a bottleneck into a baseline skill- letting professionals focus on higher-value composition and editing.

Why This Matters for Our Platform- and Our Profession

This research validates three truths we've been building toward:

1. Our expertise is irreplaceable- but our workflows can be enhanced

The high applicability score doesn't mean AI will replace interpreters — it means AI can take over subtasks within our workflow- letting us apply our judgment where it matters most.

2. We need AI literacy now- not later

As information work becomes increasingly AI-mediated- the ability to critically evaluate AI output- direct AI effectively- and integrate it ethically becomes core professional competence.

3. Our input must shape the tools

When a profession scores this high in AI applicability- it's not just a prediction of change — it's an invitation to lead that change.

What This Means Moving Forward

The data is clear: generative AI isn't some distant future for interpreters — it's already embedded in how information-work professions operate. But how it evolves depends on choices we make today.

For working interpreters- it's an invitation to:

Experiment with AI-assisted prep work while honing your skills in rapid evaluation and contextual adaptation
Advocate for your inclusion when agencies or platforms evaluate new tools
Treat AI output as a starting point- not a final product — applying your professional judgment to every interaction