Artificial Intelligence VS Human Interpreters for Communication in Healthcare
In the modern century, technology plays a major role in creating new innovations and one of the life-changing is artificial intelligence (AI). It is expanding worldwide to provide human-like interactions, such as making decisions, problem solving and so on. AI is taking over many places all over the world, especially in the healthcare field. AI is performing a vital role to improve patient care, research and efficiency. In situations where medical staff and patients speak different languages, AI can help to translate for better communication. AI plays a significant role in medical translation by being faster and user-friendly, but it lacks cultural understanding, emotional sensitivity and medical idiomatic language that human translators have. Human role in translation is irreplaceable, especially in sensitive healthcare settings.
In healthcare, delivering accurate information and proper care to patients always requires professionals who can communicate clearly and effectively. AI is playing a major role in this area. When medical staff and patients speak in different languages, Al can help by providing translations for accurate communication. However, AI is still developing and often makes errors that are unacceptable in critical healthcare settings. Human oversight is necessary to ensure accuracy of AI-driven translations (Nakamura & Rodriguez). Unlike humans, AI has difficulty understanding cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions contained in the source language (Moneus). AI is programmed by software and it cannot easily detect the cultural differences embedded in language. According to Scott Monteith et al in the article “Differences between human and artificial/augmented intelligence in medicine,” shows a major weakness of AI which holds against the accuracy it delivers. She states, “Unlike humans, AI cannot reason abstractly, cannot create constraints or counterfactuals, does not understand causality, and cannot ask why” (Scott ). This highlights an outstanding point: AI lacks true understanding. It cannot apply independent thinking or real-life logic unless it has been explicitly programmed by developers. In contrast, human translators naturally rely on their experience, cultural background and emotional intelligence to produce accurate and sensitive translations, something AI cannot imitate. AI systems often draw direct word for word translation, which may ignore the subtle differences in how meaning is conveyed. Moreover, language is more than just words, it’s influenced by culture, context and structure that vary from one language to another. For example, some languages solely depend on structures that must be followed. Human translators can easily recognize these differences and adapt their translations to make sense culturally and emotionally. On the contrary, AI lacks the ability to interpret tone, emotion or actual meaning. A sentence that sounds polite and respectful in one language may come off as rude or confusing if the machine translates directly. These subtle but important nuances are what human translators can understand and convey, something that machines are not advanced and still struggle to do.
AI is having a growing impact in many sectors of healthcare, from managing patient data to converting documents into multiple languages. Its speed and cost-efficiency make it an attractive tool for healthcare systems under constant pressure to do more work with less workforce. Because of this, there’s a growing assumption that AI could eventually replace human translators altogether. Lilia Stoyanov, in the article, “AI vs. Human Translators: Who Will Win the Translation Battle?” highlights the shift by pointing to labor market trends. She notes, “Employers of interpreters and translators are expected to have 20% growth in employment till 2032, according to U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics”(Lilia). At the same time, she explains the growing appeal of machine translation from a budget perspective: “AI translation typically costs roughly $0.10 per word, whereas human translation costs $0.22 on average”(Lilia). From a financial point of view, AI offers a clear advantage in high-volume environments like hospitals, where staff handle hundreds or even thousands of documents every week. In such cases, using AI for translation can reduce costs by more than half. It not only lowers direct labor costs like paying professional translators but also cuts down on the time and money spent managing translation teams. Tasks like hiring, training, and coordinating human translators can be time-consuming and expensive. For healthcare organizations working with limited budgets, the savings that AI provides can be very appealing. Another big benefit is that AI systems can be scaled up almost instantly. If a hospital suddenly needs to serve a new language group, they don’t have to go through a long hiring process or search for rare language specialists. Instead, they can begin using AI translation tools right away. This kind of flexibility helps organizations meet urgent demands without delaying services or stretching their staff too thin. It also helps in situations where speed is essential, such as during emergencies or in fast-paced healthcare settings. Because of these practical benefits, more and more institutions are turning to AI translation. When deadlines are tight or financial resources are limited, AI becomes an attractive option. However, while saving money is important, it’s also essential to remember that the cheapest or fastest solution is not always the best, especially in situations where accuracy, clarity, and patient safety are involved. AI cannot capture the subtleties and cultural nuances of the text like a human translator, even if it works faster and cost-effective (Moneus). When AI is used wisely, for example, in routine paperwork, internal communications, or low-risk translations, it can be a powerful and cost-effective tool that supports the work of human translators rather than replacing them. Human translators may be more expensive, but their value in delivering accurate and meaningful communication to speakers of different languages around the world is immeasurable.
A hybrid model that combines both AI and human translators is becoming more common in healthcare, but it is important to understand that human translators must remain at the center of this system. AI can help with basic tasks like translating forms, appointment details, or general instructions. These jobs do not require deep thinking or emotional understanding, and AI can do them quickly, saving time and helping staff communicate with more patients. However, AI has clear limits. It cannot fully understand complicated medical situations or the emotions that patients may be feeling. Human translators can explain difficult terms, make sure patients really understand what’s being said, and offer comfort when needed. As Monteith explains, “The purpose of AI tools is to provide information to assist and augment human decision-making. Human intelligence is unique, with diverse cognitive capabilities, and is very different from AI.”
While AI can be useful when a human translator is not available right away, it should only be used as a backup, not as a replacement. In healthcare, mistakes in communication can lead to serious harm. That’s why human translators are not just helpful, they are essential. As Nakamura and Rodriguez state, “Human translators can serve as a safety net, ensuring that AI-generated translations meet the required quality standards.” The best care happens when human translators are leading communication, especially in high-stakes or emotional situations. AI should support their work—not take it over. In the end, it’s the human connection that builds trust, reduces misunderstandings, and helps patients feel truly cared for.
Works Cited
Mohammed Moneus, Ahmed, and Yousef Sahari. Artificial Intelligence and Human Translation: A Contrastive Study Based on Legal Texts, 2023, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4441379.
Monteith, Scott, et al. “Differences between human and artificial/augmented intelligence in medicine.” Computers in Human Behavior: Artificial Humans, vol. 2, no. 2, Aug. 2024, p. 100084, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chbah.2024.100084.
Nakamura, Kenji, and Cassia Rodriguez. “The Future of Medical Translation: AI vs. Human Translators – Globibo Blog.” Globibo Articles & Research, 1 Mar. 2025, globibo.blog/the-future-of-medical-translation-ai-vs-human-translators/.
Stoyanov, Lilia. “AI vs. Human Translators: Who Will Win the Translation Battle?” Entrepreneur, 6 Feb. 2024, www.entrepreneur.com/en-gb/science-technology/ai-vs-human-translators-who-will-win-the-translation/467210.
