We are at a crossroads in the language services industry. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming interwoven into the work of interpreters. If AI has the potential to negatively impact our job opportunities, then it may be time for us to take this bull by the horns. It starts with us. The time is now for stepping up our game and standing out. The presenter will argue that coming out of the shadows is key to raising our status and increasing the value others place on us. It could also save some jobs. Secondly, the presenter will share strategies that can be employed by interpreters, trainers, administrators, and agency owners. We can all use these strategies to advocate for the relevance of interpreters. She will share techniques for showing our value and how to teach others to appreciate the mental gymnastics occurring inside our amazing brains during the interpreted encounter. We know how demanding this job can be. We know that it requires far more cognitive skills than just speaking two languages. But others do not. In fact, most people assume this job requires us to just be bilingual and nice. But we can change that. We can help them understand our complex skill set. Finally, the presenter will argue that a national messaging campaign could help us move forward. If we learn how to articulate our skillset and the added value we bring to the table, there's great potential to not only improve our status but also enhance our working conditions and pay. In the end, we might be a little less misunderstood and a lot more valued. And maybe, just maybe we can keep AI from invading too much of our workspace.
