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Poll: What is the biggest barrier to a long-term career in AI data training?
Postavljač teme: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
OVLAŠTENI DJELATNIK PORTALA
Oct 18

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "What is the biggest barrier to a long-term career in AI data training?".

This poll was originally submitted by Ana Moirano. View the poll results »
 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Njemačka
Local time: 13:57
Član (2009)
engleski na njemački
+ ...
Others Oct 18

My non-existent desire to pursue one. SIGH YAWN

[Edited at 2026-10-18 15:20 GMT]

M. Anna Kańduła
Jennifer Levey
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Daryo
Sabrina Bruna
writeaway
Alison M
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 12:57
Član (2007)
engleski na portugalski
+ ...
Other Oct 18

stock-vector-yawn-emoticon-vector-189803621

Thayenga
Carmen Valentin-Rodriguez
Yaotl Altan
Philip Lees
 
Jennifer Levey
Jennifer Levey  Identity Verified
Čile
Local time: 08:57
španjolski na engleski
+ ...
Let's turn that around... Oct 18

The Poll asks:
"What is the biggest barrier to a long-term career in AI data training?".

Alternative poll question:
"Would you agree that AI data training is becoming the biggest barrier to a long-term career in almost anything (except, perhaps, crime and war-mongering)"?
JL

Thayenga
Sabrina Bruna
writeaway
Daryo
Elaine Ruby
Yaotl Altan
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Hipyan Nopri
Hipyan Nopri  Identity Verified
Indonezija
Local time: 18:57
engleski na indonezijski
+ ...
Professional Suicide Oct 18

I voted for “Inconsistent project volume and pay rates,” as I believe it is the root cause of the other barriers.

Based on accounts from colleagues and translator communities, AI data training projects often end without notice, task availability fluctuates, and rates vary widely across vendors. Without a stable income, a long-term career is hardly possible. The lack of growth paths and the underappreciation of linguistic expertise largely stem from this short-term, low-paid mode... See more
I voted for “Inconsistent project volume and pay rates,” as I believe it is the root cause of the other barriers.

Based on accounts from colleagues and translator communities, AI data training projects often end without notice, task availability fluctuates, and rates vary widely across vendors. Without a stable income, a long-term career is hardly possible. The lack of growth paths and the underappreciation of linguistic expertise largely stem from this short-term, low-paid model, while unclear qualification standards are mainly a barrier to entry.

For translators, accepting such work would, in my view, amount to professional suicide: we would be lending our expertise, often at modest rates, to systems designed to reduce the demand for our services.

That is why I focus on translation, editing, and MTPE/AIPE, where expertise is better recognized. I respect colleagues who choose otherwise, but greater transparency on project continuity and rates would benefit everyone. ▲ Collapse


M. Anna Kańduła
Michael Newton
 
Daryo
Daryo
Local time: 12:57
srpski na engleski
+ ...
Some very special sense of humour at work! Oct 18

Some very special sense of humour must be lurking behind this poll question!

I'm getting confused about timescales: how 'long-term' could be an activity aimed at ruining as quickly as possible your own profession?

Is proudly steering the ship at the iceberg 'right now' some novel definition of 'a long-term endeavour'??

M. Anna Kańduła
Philip Lees
Alex Lichanow
Thayenga
Yuri Larin
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Philip Lees
Philip Lees  Identity Verified
Grčka
Local time: 14:57
grčki na engleski
Indifference 04:20

Complete lack of interest.

And I echo Daryo's comment about "long-term". There is no "long-term" here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uljBNruOuM

Thayenga
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Li-Hsiang Hsu
Li-Hsiang Hsu  Identity Verified
Francuska
Local time: 13:57
francuski na kineski
+ ...
Very low rate 05:31

Why is there no "rates are too low" option? Rates that are too low in relation to the required qualifications are the main issue. For instance, I once saw a job posting on LinkedIn looking for a native French speaker with a PhD in linguistics, at a rate of 18 USD per hour.

As far as I know, an Amazon delivery driver in France is paid at 16-22 EUR/H, that is 18-25 USD/H.

[Edited at 2026-10-19 05:44 GMT]
 


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Poll: What is the biggest barrier to a long-term career in AI data training?






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