#69 Massive Localization at Canva, RSI Learning Curve, and Regulating AI
Florian is starstruck this week as Rachel Carruthers (Head of Internationalization and Localization) and Michael Levot (Localization Program Lead) from his favorite SaaS tool, Canva, join SlatorPod.
Rachel and Michael join the Pod from Down Under to talk about Canva’s hub-and-spoke model for Localization, which enables them to run a “[expletive] massive” localization operation across no less than 104 languages.
They talk about deciding what to build and what to buy in the way of language technology, and discuss their language services vendor model, which currently involves a half a dozen LSPs.
First up, Florian and Esther discuss a Paris-based RSI study which concludes that interpreters find remote simultaneous interpreting (RSI) more difficult than onsite.
Meanwhile, Google Translate marked one billion installs by looking back on the language capabilities it has added since launching in 2010. The duo also talk about proposed regulation from the EU around AI systems.
Florian then talks about the latest set of financial results from Australia-listed LSP, Straker Translations, and Esther unpacks Ai-Media’s equity raise and upcoming acquisition of US-based captioning technology provider EEG.
00:00:00 Agenda and Intro
00:03:06 Remote Simultaneous Interpreting survey results
00:10:59 Straker Q4 results
00:14:21 Ai-Media to acquire EEG
00:17:08 EU AI Regulation
00:23:48 One billion installs on Google Translate
00:26:10 Rachel Carruthers and Michael Levot join the pod
00:27:10 Intro to Canva
00:29:01 Rachel's personal background
00:30:18 Michael’s personal background
00:32:03 Global distribution of Canva's team
00:35:40 Localization and internationalization structure
00:39:08 The size of loc operations at Canva
00:41:21 Design and localization
00:44:38 Balance of build vs buy
00:47:10 Different loc approaches for different content types
00:49:29 Canva’s take on localization ROI
00:52:11 Changes in global demand as a result of the pandemic
00:52:17 Region-specific challenges
00:57:45 Running a big loc team from Australia
01:00:54 Key initiatives for the next 12-18 months