Globally Speaking

We’re excited to unveil our brand-new Globally Speaking identity! Experience it firsthand in our latest episode! This time, our host Matt Hardy sits down with Gil Hetz, VP of AI at aiOla, to explore the rise of voice as the future of human–machine interaction. Why is speech becoming the go-to interface? Because it’s faster, more natural, and simply more practical, especially when your hands are full, whether you’re on a factory floor or in a busy retail space. Gil reveals how aiOla’s technology is breaking barriers on multiple fronts. It seamlessly handles accents, background noise, and real-time processing, making voice interactions smooth and reliable, in any environment. This innovation is already powering real-world scenarios and boosting productivity and safety where it matters most. Whether you’re in tech, operations, or just curious about what's next, this episode is your front-row seat to the voice revolution. Learn more about shaping the future with on-device processing and multilingual models - and building machines that don’t just understand speech but act on it.

Ready to rethink creativity in the age of AI? Step into our latest episode of the Globally Speaking Podcast, where host Çetin Amirak welcomes Dirk Simpson, Transcreation Lead at Accenture Song, for a compelling exploration of how artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of creativity and brand storytelling worldwide. Dirk offers a behind-the-scenes look at how brands connect with people across languages, cultures, and continents. While AI unlocks new levels of personalization, it also raises big questions about authenticity, emotional impact, and cultural sensitivity. Together, Çetin and Dirk dig into the evolving relationship between human creativity and machine intelligence, showing how brands can harness AI’s speed and efficiency without losing the cultural nuance and human touch that make brand stories magical. Drawing on real-world examples, including the reinvention of iconic campaigns like Coca-Cola’s ‘The Holiday Magic is Coming’, they dive into the risks and opportunities for brands navigating this new era. How do you keep stories authentic when algorithms are in the mix? Can AI ever match the emotional spark of a great idea? Tune in for bold insights, fresh perspectives, and actionable advice to help your brand’s stories resonate in a world where creativity and technology go hand in hand.

In this special Creative Series edition of Globally Speaking, join us as we dive into the art of storytelling with James Murphy, founder and Creative Director of London’s Hocus Pocus animation studio. Explore how James and his team expertly blend visual storytelling with linguistic finesse to craft authentic, culturally sensitive narratives that resonate with global audiences. James shares Hocus Pocus’ commitment to authenticity in projects like the BAFTA-nominated series Ready Eddie GO!, produced for Sky Kids, which features the real voices of autistic and neurodiverse children from around the world. He also offers insights on how to approach translation and adaptation thoughtfully when working with such meaningful content. In this exclusive conversation with our Creative Director, Stuart Davison, James also dives into the evolving role of emerging technologies like AI in storytelling - including his perspective on AI-generated voices and their potential impact on the creative process. Tune in to discover how creativity, cultural empathy, and powerful narratives come together to truly connect with audiences.

Happy International Women's Day! In this special Globally Speaking episode, our host Amanda Newton, President of Global Content Services at RWS, sits down with three remarkable leaders in AI and technology: • Pia F. Bresnan, Senior Globalization Manager at Uber • Giselle Tran, Senior Manager, Language Experience & Technology at Sage • Jennifer Vela-Valido, Localization Quality Program & Innovation Manager at Spotify and Chapters Program Director at Women in Localization Together on this special episode, they explore their unique career journeys, the challenges they've overcome, and the triumphs they've celebrated in an industry long dominated by men. Hear their perspectives on how women and gender-diverse individuals can shape the future of AI, advocating for equitable representation, and ensuring technology serves diverse global communities. Gain insights into navigating gender biases, fostering inclusivity, and the importance of curiosity and mentorship. Join us for an inspiring conversation on resilience, leadership, and the power of representation. Be part of the movement to foster a more inclusive and innovative tech industry this International Women’s Day!

How does one of the world’s most renowned design platforms make design accessible to users in over 190 international markets and in 106 languages? Our host, Stuart Davison, Creative Director at RWS, is joined by Michael Levot, Head of Localization and Internationalization at Canva, as they answer this question and explore the pivotal topics of creativity, accessibility, trust, and representation in an AI-driven world. Discover Michael’s views on the future of localization, their take on the impact of AI on human creativity, and their insights on navigating the interplay of bold creativity, authenticity, and trust. Finally, get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how Canva tackles the challenge of creating standout global content at lightning speed—while honoring cultural nuances and ensuring a lasting impact on users worldwide. We're also proud to announce... We are the Official Creative Localization Partner for Canva Create 2025, where we’ll join industry giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), LinkedIn, Intuit Mailchimp, Dropbox to explore how creativity and technology intersect to shape the future of creation: https://www.canva.com/canva-create/

In this episode of the Globally Speaking Podcast, Cassandra Prieto, Sr. Director, Client Services at RWS, and Dominique Biliato, VP of Learning Operations at SAI360, discuss how SAI360 is leveraging AI to revolutionize the eLearning space and enhance customer benefits. Dominique shares how SAI360 empowers organizations worldwide with integrated ethics, governance, risk, and compliance software, supported by an extensive eLearning library in over 70 languages. She dives deep into the transformative role of AI in compliance and ethics training, addressing both the challenges and the rewards of incorporating AI into their operations, and also reveals how adopting Evolve by RWS has helped them stay at the forefront of the AI revolution. Discover all the innovative trends reshaping eLearning, from the rise of microlearning to the use of AI for translation and content creation, all while maintaining stringent quality and compliance standards. Dominique also offers insights for the next generation of localization professionals, emphasizing how technology can help create scalable, future-ready processes.

In this episode of the Globally Speaking Podcast on the future of human-machine collaboration, Emma Fisher, Vice President of Global Marketing at RWS, sits down with Melanie Peterson, Senior Program Director of Train AI at RWS, to discuss the essential role of the human touch in AI development. As AI technology continues to evolve, the need for ethical standards in data training becomes increasingly vital. Melanie underscores the necessity of subject matter experts in ensuring AI models are unbiased, accurate, ethical, and diverse. Discover the risks of relying solely on AI-generated data through some of her real-world examples, highlighting the dangers of AI going unchecked - when humans are excluded from the process. Listen to the episode for tips on how to develop and deploy AI with care - ensuring that it serves humanity effectively and responsibly. Discover more about Genuine Intelligence, the Future of Human-Machine Collaboration: https://www.rws.com/about/genuine-intelligence/

In this new episode of Globally Speaking, host Lenny Grinberg, VP of Sales at RWS, sits down with Christopher Auteberry, Director of Commercial Learning and Development for Americas at Hyatt Hotels, and Dave Romero, Co-founder and President of Unboxed Training & Technology. They recount their unexpected meeting at a Learning & Development event that sparked a powerful partnership, leading to a transformative collaboration where Unboxed and RWS supported Christopher in crafting and localizing a comprehensive learning and development strategy for Hyatt’s global workforce. Join them as they explore the essential role of building meaningful professional connections. You’ll be inspired by their journey and insights, and as a special bonus at the end of the episode, hear their contrasting views on AI in today’s fast-changing landscape. Tune in for insights and stories that highlight how true partnerships can drive success!

Are you ready to jump into the future of AI? In this new episode of our Globally Speaking podcast, join RWS's Çetin Amirak and AWS's Andrea Frio as they explore the exciting evolution of generative AI, from experimentation in 2023 to full-scale production in 2024. Discover how generative AI is transforming customer experiences, supercharging productivity, and sparking creativity - but don’t overlook the indispensable role of high-quality data in achieving success. Are you wondering how to tackle new challenges like AI “hallucinations”? Our hosts reveal innovative strategies, including prompt engineering and retrieval augmented generation (RAG), to ensure your AI projects thrive. And as an added bonus, get a sneak peek into emerging trends like “agentification” that are shaping the future of the AI landscape. Tune in for invaluable insights that will empower you to leverage generative AI for groundbreaking innovation.

How can AI enhance author productivity by automating repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of your work? How do you navigate the murky waters of AI-generated misinformation? And how can you foster an environment in which your clients can trust your content? The stakes are high for businesses looking to implement AI and large language models (LLMs) – almost half (47%) experience at least one AI project failure. In this new episode of the Globally Speaking Podcast dedicated to the theme of content confidence, Frank Closset, Head of R&D for Tridion at RWS, and Emma Fisher, VP of Global Marketing at RWS, discuss how Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) could be the key to cultivating customer trust. Discover more about [Tridion Docs](https://www.rws.com/content-management/tridion/tridion-docs-best-ccms/?utm_campaign=Tridion&utm_content=305052678&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-12582389) Learn more about the future of human-machine collaboration and our philosophy on the power of the two combined, which we call [Genuine Intelligence](https://www.rws.com/about/genuine-intelligence/).

This episode of Globally Speaking celebrates 40 years of innovation from Trados Studio. Paul Filkin, Senior Director of Customer Enablement at RWS, speaks to Anna Rita de Bonis, Software Accessibility Specialist and Trainer for the Visually Impaired at RWS, who explains how she has helped us challenge the translation industry by helping to make Trados Studio accessible to visually impaired language specialists. Hear about Anna Rita‘s experience as a blind user of Trados and other CAT tools in the second part of the episode. The latest version of the industry-leading CAT tool, Studio 2024, includes exciting new features that improve accessibility, democratize access to generative AI and increase management capabilities. Learn more about it here: [Trados](https://www.trados.com/)

This episode of Globally Speaking celebrates 40 years of innovation from Trados Studio. Paul Filkin, Senior Director of Customer Enablement at RWS, speaks to Anna Rita de Bonis, Software Accessibility Specialist and Trainer for the Visually Impaired at RWS, who explains how she has helped us challenge the translation industry by helping to make Trados Studio accessible to visually impaired language specialists. Hear about Anna Rita‘s experience as a blind user of Trados and other CAT tools in the first part of the episode. The latest version of the industry-leading CAT tool, Studio 2024, includes exciting new features that improve accessibility, democratize access to generative AI and increase management capabilities. Learn more about it here: [Trados](https://www.trados.com/)

In our latest episode of the Globally Speaking Podcast, join Francisco Gomez, CEO of Factum Global, as he sits down with Jordan Cockrell to share some insights into what’s on the minds of today’s CEOs. Find out why most leaders are optimistic about the role of AI, cyber security and digital transformation and learn why 84 % of them see geographic expansion as a way to diversify risk and look for the next opportunity. The future can be a little scary and managing the risks of integrating cutting-edge technology and entering new markets is crucial. But what’s the risk of NOT embracing these changes in a world where cross-border business is easier than ever? Learn more in this podcast! If you want to check the Factum Global survey Francisco is talking about, click here: https://factumglobal.com/business-sentiment-survey-q124/

Have you ever wondered how many colours the human eye can distinguish? Around 1 million! Yet, language only has about 12 basic colour terms to describe them. This leads us to the question: Can AI truly understand our world if it relies solely on linguistic training data? The reality is that language is an abstraction – an oversimplification of the world that doesn’t contain all the information humans have, such as visual or auditory information. So we cannot achieve true intelligence by training a model purely with language data. Listen to our latest Globally Speaking episode as Marina Pantcheva and Emma Fisher dive deep into the theme of ‘GENUINE INTELLIGENCE™’, and discover why we need to use AI as a tool that enhances human capabilities but does not replace them. Download your report on GENUINE INTELLIGENCE™, the future of human-machine collaboration: https://hubs.ly/Q02ChdfX0

Digital services (and digital access to information) are an increasingly important means of helping marginalized groups in emergencies. But, as you can imagine, there are many barriers preventing equal access to online information and apps. For instance, when international humanitarian organizations offer services in only international or official languages, many minority language speakers are excluded. Aimee Ansari, CEO, and Ellie Kemp, Head of Research, Evidence and Advocacy at CLEAR Global did us the honour of visiting our Globally Speaking studio to share with us the first results of a research project on language in digital inclusion. Listen to their fascinating insights – such as the intriguing phenomenon of certain minorities using fintech solutions, like mobile money, in languages they don't fully understand or can't read. They also explore how reliance on technology in a narrow range of languages can exacerbate the vulnerability of already marginalized populations.

“Companies are nowadays expected to seamlessly cater to client preferences and deliver relevant and personalized content on demand. Real-time and just-in-time localization is a key component of this hyper-personalized approach to communication”. Listen to Loïc Dufresne de Virel, 25-year industry veteran and head of localization at Intel, who couldn’t be more enthusiastic about recent AI developments and their impact on customer experience. Loïc explains, however, that the key to effectively capitalizing on this major transformation lies not only in the choice of AI but in the ability to integrate it into existing processes at multiple levels. Assigning a specific natural language processing task to an AI worker is relatively easy. The real challenge lies in the compatibility with other technologies, the ability to deploy AI capabilities at scale, and the requirement to support complex content formats - in parallel with the development of more flexible workflows based on AI-generated outcomes. Knowing how to strike the right balance between AI-enabled automation and the human touch, each complementing and augmenting the other, is undoubtedly the key to turning content localization into a significant driver of incremental revenue.

It's AI bingo at the moment! Everyone's talking about it - but did you know that the quality and quantity of training datasets are crucial to the accuracy and effectiveness of machine learning models? The more diverse and representative the data, the better the AI model can perform in terms of nuance. Did you ever wonder how to ensure that AI discerns what Americans would wear to a wedding? And what people would wear in Asia, Europe or Africa, taking into account the specificities of each country? In this enlightening AI dialogue episode of our Globally Speaking podcast, Melanie Peterson - Program Director for Train AI at RWS - joins Vasagi Kothandapani to discuss how she tackled one of her biggest AI challenges: a rating and labelling data project for western-style womenswear using resources in the APAC region only, where the raters were 80% male. Melanie unpacks the intricacies of her mission, shedding light on how she explains what she does to her family and friends, why a rocket scientist or a chef might have been involved in one of Train AI's latest data training projects, and what exactly we mean by data collection, data creation, data annotation and sentiment analysis. Get ready for a captivating exploration into the heart of AI.

In this second Globally Speaking Podcast, dedicated to the localization supply chain, follow Rosario de Zayas Rueda's fascinating journey as she explains how she started out as a translator and language specialist and ended up opening her own language services agency, completing a full cycle of professional development. As she explains, in her early days in the localization industry, the role of a language specialist was nebulous. Like many of her peers at the time, Rosario had to navigate, figure everything out as she went along and fill in the gaps left by other people's undefined job descriptions. Discover how her passion for technology led her to set up her own LSP, where she pioneered with post-editing processes and machine translation – long before these advances gained global recognition. And finally, discover why sometimes it’s not about the quality of the translation but more about the quality of the business outcome.

There are so many things you'd miss out on if someone hadn't taken the time to translate them... the best literature, the trendy Netflix shows or the instructions for your medicine. Plus, learning a language so you can have a conversation with someone from another country that you wouldn't otherwise be able to understand, or so you can understand music in another language, is so powerful. These are just some of the reasons why Melanie - who likes to think of herself as a cultural correspondent - decided to become a language specialist and unlock global understanding to ensure that every piece of content resonates appropriately with its audience. In the next series of our Globally Speaking podcast, we take a closer look at all the layers of the localization supply chain. In this first episode, discover the world of probably the most important player: the translator, who we now call the language specialist! Find out about her experience with Trados and other translation software, why she thinks AI won't replace humans and what pressure she's currently feeling in the market.

How can a company set up a localization program from scratch? What are the important criteria to consider, and what are the challenges? Is there a translation policy in place? What needs to be translated, and into which languages? Who is responsible for reporting and the communication around it? Find out what Renée Lemley, former Global Copy Director at Under Armour, has to say about her experience of setting up a brand-new localization process at Under Armour and why she believes the secrets lie in the brand voice. In this episode of Globally Speaking, she explains to our host, Jordan Cockrell, that it is essential to have a language service provider who is fully engaged on the client’s side and who shares a strong agreement on the partnership. As Anthony Burgess, author of a Clockwork Orange, explains: “Translation is not just about words, but about making a whole culture intelligible.” It's about translating emotions and a part of the culture, and that's the magic of what LSPs do.