Beyond Human vs Machine: Why working with AI is a Team Sport

Posted October 11, 2025

In Faculty Research Articles, Research Publications

AI translation tools like ChatGPT and Claude promise to break down language barriers and improve accessibility, but this research reveals significant limitations when translating culturally sensitive content. The study involving university students using artificial intelligence to translate medical documents for multicultural communities exposed critical flaws in how large language models handle cross-cultural communication. When students in Hong Kong and Australia used AI chatbots to translate health information for minority language speakers, they discovered the technology often produced translations that were technically correct but culturally offensive – like using derogatory terms for disabled children or creating phrases that sounded insulting to native speakers.

Rather than the feared scenario of AI replacing human translators, the research highlights how successful translation requires humans and AI working together as partners. Students found themselves constantly teaching the AI cultural context, correcting its tone-deaf mistakes, and filling in gaps where the technology simply didn’t understand local customs or generational differences. This collaborative process of “sympoiesis” or “making-together” suggests we need to rethink our relationship with AI. Just as humans depend on countless microorganisms in our bodies to survive, perhaps AI is becoming part of our extended ecosystem. The findings challenge us to move beyond simplistic “human versus machine” debates and instead focus on building ethical, culturally aware partnerships between people and AI systems to make important information accessible to everyone, regardless of their language or background.