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Imagine it’s 2044.
Technology has transformed the way we communicate.
You’re a young British traveller in Russia, the snow falling gently around you as you head into a bustling bar in the heart of Moscow. You spot a beautiful woman across the room and, despite your terrible Russian accent, you confidently approach her.
But instead of speaking, you simply activate the microphone implanted in your neck. The AI in your vocal cords translates your words perfectly, and your voice booms out in flawless Russian: "May I buy you a drink?"
The woman smiles, the conversation flows, and the young man walks away thinking, "Why did my dad even try to raise me bilingual?"
That young man could be... my son!
You see, my husband and I are raising him to be trilingual in Russian, Chinese, and English.
But with AI technology advancing so quickly, I can’t help but wonder:
Is all this effort to teach our kids multiple languages completely pointless?
The Rise of AI: Making Language Learning Obsolete?
This post is inspired by a comment from one of my YouTube viewers who asked a thought-provoking question:
With the rise of AI, is there really any point in raising children to speak multiple languages? What's more, English is becoming the global language, and soon, AI might be able to translate everything for us in real time.
Her question really got me thinking.
As a professional translator, I’ve witnessed first-hand how AI has revolutionised translation over the years. There was a time when Google Translate was a running joke among translators (watch my video where I include a compilation of hilarious Chinese translation "fails"), but now?
AI-powered translation tools have become faster, more accurate, and incredibly efficient.
Could AI eventually make learning languages redundant? Could it make raising a bilingual or trilingual child a waste of time?
How Far Has AI Translation Come?
Let’s first take a look at where AI translation technology stands in 2024.
In terms of written translation, AI tools like Google Translate and Microsoft Translator have come a long way. AI algorithms now learn from huge amounts of multilingual data, improving translation accuracy every year. While it's not perfect, the quality of machine translation has skyrocketed. In fact, I predict that in ten years, AI will be able to handle 95% or more of routine translations.
But what about face-to-face communication? AI is already capable of translating spoken words in real time. You can speak into your phone, and it’ll translate almost instantly, making communication across languages so much easier. Some tools even offer conversation modes where two people can speak different languages and still have a real-time conversation. (Watch my video where I put Google Translate to the test in Mandarin and Cantonese!)
Is it perfect? No. It still struggles with complex sentences, slang, and regional accents.
But it’s getting better every day. At lightning speed.
Will AI Replace Human Connection?
Here’s where it gets interesting: AI may soon be able to replace interpreters and translators in the majority of situations, but will it ever replace human connection?
I think not. Not yet, anyway.
Will you want to talk to your grandmother through an app?
Or have deep, meaningful conversations about your fears, your dreams, your future with your partner using Google Translate?
Probably not.
We’ve evolved to communicate in person, face-to-face, using the language of our tribe.
AI may be able to replicate the words, but it can’t fully capture the tone, emotion, or nuance that make up the heart of real human conversation.
As advanced as AI becomes, it’s still a tool, not a replacement for genuine connection.
Obviously, no one can predict what's going to happen in the distant future, but I don't see AI completely eliminating our need for genuine human connections... just yet!
Cognitive Benefits of Learning Multiple Languages
Aside from the emotional aspect, there are proven cognitive benefits to learning multiple languages.
Being bilingual or trilingual rewires the brain in fascinating ways. Multilingual children often have better problem-solving skills, sharper memories, and improved creativity. They’re also more adaptable and empathetic because they’re used to seeing the world from different perspectives.
I've made a couple of videos and blog posts discussing these benefits in more detail, so definitely check them out!
In a fast-paced, ever-changing world, these skills are invaluable. So, even if AI can handle most translation tasks, raising your child to speak multiple languages can still give them a cognitive edge.
A Rare Skill and Unfair Advantage
Let’s take it one step further.
Imagine a future where most people give up on learning a second language, fully relying on AI for communication. It’s easy to picture – a world where people can effortlessly switch between languages with the help of technology, removing the need for traditional language learning. In such a world, being bilingual or multilingual would no longer be the norm but rather a rare, almost niche skill.
But here’s the thing – having a rare skill is an incredible asset.
In their book The Unfair Advantage, authors Ash Ali and Hasan Kubba highlight how possessing a unique, hard-to-replicate skill gives you a powerful edge over others.
This concept applies perfectly to language learning in an AI-dominated future.
As more people abandon the effort to learn additional languages, those who are bilingual or trilingual will find themselves standing out in ways that may not seem obvious at first.
In a world where everyone relies on AI to communicate, those who can speak multiple languages fluently will have what can be considered an "unfair advantage."
Why?
Because while AI might handle everyday translations, there are certain subtleties that machines can never fully grasp – cultural nuances, emotional undertones, and the deep connection that comes from speaking to someone in their native tongue without a technological barrier.
Being multilingual offers more than just the ability to translate words. It opens doors to deeper cultural understanding, empathy, and relationship-building. Imagine the competitive edge this could give your child in future job markets, international business, or even in personal relationships.
When others are relying on machines, your child will have the ability to connect on a human level – something that can never be fully replicated by AI.
In this sense, raising a bilingual or trilingual child in a monolingual world doesn’t just offer a rare skill – it provides a lifelong asset that could shape their personal and professional success in unimaginable ways.
Conclusion: Is It Pointless to Raise a Multilingual Child?
So, to my son, if you’re reading this in 2044, I hope you didn’t think our efforts to raise you trilingual were wasted. Maybe you’ll walk into that bar in Moscow one day and speak to that beautiful Russian lady in her native tongue.
AI is incredible, and I do believe it will transform how we communicate.
But raising a child to be bilingual or trilingual is far from pointless.
Language isn’t just about communication. It’s about connection, culture, and expanding our cognitive powers.
And no AI can replace that... (just yet)
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