By Olivia Maurice
Publication Date: 2026-05-14 00:10:00
From live voice translation in video calls to automatic syncing on TikTok, the technology to overcome language barriers has arrived. Real-time translations with artificial intelligence (AI) are now firmly anchored in everyday life.
Tools from OpenAI, Meta, Google, and many others now provide near-instantaneous translations into dozens of languages and are constantly improving.
All of this raises an important question. If machines can do this faster and more accurately than humans, is it still worth investing years into learning another language?
The logic is appealing. Humans have always shifted cognitive work to tools. Writing places fewer demands on our memory. Pocket calculators made mental arithmetic unnecessary. AI follows this long tradition. When used correctly, it can support learning and expand access in hugely important ways.
However, there is a difference between using a tool to expand your skills and using it to avoid something altogether. This distinction becomes important when you…
