Will Artificial Intellifence Replace Language Teachers?


I recently listened to this podcast interview of futurist Kevin Kelly:

https://theartofcharm.com/podcast-episodes/kevin-kelly-inevitable-future-episode-559/

This was recorded back in October 2016.

He talks about the possibility of an accurate simultaneous translation technology that he sees coming in the next 5 years. Maybe something like a babelfish:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babel_fish_(The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy) 

Kelly says, “I think the idea of having the thing that you wear, and you’ll need to be connected online, but I think the thing that would wear and will translate for you will be in the next 5 years”

iFlytek (科大讯飞), one of the largest voice technology companies in China, already sells a pocket translation device. I don't know how good it is, but I'm sure that it'll get better and better in the future:

https://fanyi.xunfei.cn

Is this the end for language teachers? In the next couple years, will AI and technology be good enough to replace the need to learn a foreign language? Will there be a dramatic drop in the number of students who learn a second language?


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