AI Webinar Series: AI and Translation

This episode is a recording of the second webinar in our AI Webinar Series. Please find the webinar details below.   Moderator: Dr. Marianna Richardson (Director, G20 Interfaith Forum Communications)   Speakers: Steve Richardson (Professor of Computer Science, Brigham Young University) Ammon Shurtz (Computer Scienve PhD Student, Brigham Young University) Charles Cranney (Senior Manager of Digital Media, BYU Brand & Creative)   AI is transforming translation by making it faster, more accessible, and capable of handling dozens of languages that previously lacked digital tools. These systems can bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, helping people learn, collaborate, and share ideas across borders. At the same time, AI translation still struggles with nuance, tone, and culturally embedded meaning, reminding us that human judgment remains essential. When used thoughtfully, AI becomes a powerful partner in expanding understanding while preserving the richness of human language. Professor Stephen D. Richardson is working on low-resource languages in Africa to encourage the communication and preservation of tribal languages.