FUTURE OF TRANSLATION IN THE DIGITAL AGE: OPPORTUNITIES AND ETHICAL CHALLENGES

In the digital age, translation has evolved from a manual literary craft to a technologically mediated process shaped by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data. Digital translation tools, such as Google Translate, DeepL, and AI-powered language models are reshaping the accessibility and dissemination of knowledge across linguistic boundaries. While these technologies provide unprecedented opportunities for bridging cultures, democratizing education, and accelerating communication, they also raise critical ethical challenges. Issues such as cultural erasure, algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the diminishing role of human creativity in translation demand urgent scholarly attention. This paper explores the dual nature of digital translation: its capacity to foster inclusivity and cross-cultural dialogue on the one hand, and its risks of homogenization, misrepresentation, and dependency on Western technological frameworks on the other. By situating translation studies within the framework of the National Education Policy 2020 and global digital literacy, the paper argues for a balanced approach where human translators and AI technologies co-exist in a symbiotic model. This future-oriented discussion emphasizes translation as not only a linguistic act but also an ethical responsibility in sustaining cultural diversity in a rapidly digitizing world.