The first week of August brought a major debate about the world of translation back onto the agenda. A report by Anadolu Agency dated 3 August 2026 announced that the translation industry is being transformed by artificial intelligence and digital game adaptations. Contrary to the narrative that 'AI will put translators out of work', the report points out that the profession is being reshaped around new areas of specialization. In this article, we take a detailed look at this recent development, examining every dimension of the topic — from the rise of game localization to the European Union's AI transparency rules, from the unchanging role of the human translator in official document translation to a practical roadmap for document holders.
The signal from the industry in August 2026: transformation, not extinction
According to the report, Dr. Nesrin Onur, Head of the English Translation and Interpreting Department at Biruni University, states that AI-powered technologies are transforming the translation industry and that students are gravitating towards creative, technology-focused fields such as the adaptation of digital games into local languages and cultures. In other words, young translator candidates on university benches are not abandoning the profession — they are investing in its new face.
This observation offers an important correction to the pessimistic scenarios about the industry's future. The same statement stresses that assessments claiming the translation profession will disappear because of artificial intelligence do not fully reflect reality; the profession is undergoing a transformation through new areas of specialization and technological competencies, and because demand is growing for translators who can use AI tools effectively and who specialize in game technologies and digital media, university curricula are also being updated. In short, what is changing is not the existence of the profession but the boundaries of its job description.
Why is game localization translation's new centre of gravity?
It is noted that the digital gaming industry has reached a volume of billions of dollars worldwide, and that with growing investment aimed at Turkish-speaking players, the need for translators specializing in game translation and localization is rising. Turkey's young, gaming-heavy population makes Turkish localization a commercial necessity for global publishers — and that means an entirely new employment gateway for language professionals.
So how does localization differ from classic translation? According to experts, game adaptation is not merely about rendering texts into another language; recreating characters' speech patterns, humour and cultural references in a way that fits the target culture, as well as making the texts compatible with the software infrastructure and running quality control processes, are integral parts of the job. In this respect, game localization is a hybrid specialty standing at the intersection of literary and artistic translation and software engineering. A similar approach applies in the corporate world: website translation, which opens a company's digital storefront to foreign markets, likewise requires adaptation to the target audience's culture rather than word-for-word translation.
Which tasks has AI taken over, and which remain with humans?
Experts emphasize that while artificial intelligence accelerates translation workflows, human translators retain their importance in cultural adaptation and creative language use. Voices from the field support this assessment: A translator-interpreter working in Mersin points out that AI has sped up the industry, but that translating with genuine comprehension is uniquely human, that translation is not merely word-based, and that interpretation also matters.
In practice, the picture can be summarized as follows: for high-volume, repetitive and low-risk content (internal correspondence, preliminary drafts, informational scans), machine translation saves serious time. By contrast, contracts that create legal liability, medical reports affecting patient safety, documents to be submitted to official authorities, and creative texts that carry a brand's voice cannot be used with confidence without human expertise and a human signature. In these areas, AI can at most play the role of an 'assistive tool'; ultimate responsibility always rests with the person who signs the translation.
The age of transparency: what do the EU's AI labelling rules say to translation?
Another dimension of the transformation is unfolding on the regulatory front. According to developments reported in the technology press, the European Union has brought into force new transparency rules requiring the mandatory labelling of AI-generated content. This approach aims to clearly inform the reader whether content was produced by a human or by an algorithm.
For the translation world, the implications are significant: it is becoming ever harder to present machine-translated texts as 'human translation'. In the field of official translation, however, this transparency is already built into the system's very nature; the sworn translator declares the accuracy of the translation under their own name, signature and stamp. In other words, the 'who produced it, who is responsible' chain that the corporate world is only now trying to establish has been practised by the sworn translation system for decades. In the coming period, it would not be surprising to see organizations purchasing translation services request an 'AI usage declaration' from their suppliers.
Official documents tell a different story: why are the sworn translator and notarization indispensable?
In game localization, creativity comes first; in official document translation, legal assurance takes precedence. To become a sworn translator, one must be a citizen of the Republic of Turkey, hold a diploma in the relevant foreign language, have a clean criminal record and sign an oath deed before a notary public; this title can be conferred only by notaries under the Notary Law No. 1512. It is therefore legally impossible for an AI tool to carry the 'sworn' title; certified translation by definition rests on the personal responsibility of a human translator.
Let us also clarify a frequently confused distinction here: A sworn translation is one certified by a translator who has taken an oath deed before a notary, bearing the translator's own stamp and signature; the document carries only the stamp of the translator and their agency. Some official institutions additionally require the translation to be certified by a notary as well — that is, the more formal status of translation. This second procedure is called notary-approved translation and is subject to a separate certification fee; the two procedures are not interchangeable.
If the document is going abroad, an apostille is often added to the chain. An important reminder: a translation agency cannot issue an apostille; the apostille certificate is issued under the Hague Convention by district governorships and provincial governorships without any state fee being charged. As of July 2026, the Hague Apostille Convention has 130 contracting states, and this number changes continually with new accessions; printed lists should therefore be regarded as a snapshot in time. To correctly sequence the order required by the destination country (apostille first, or translation first?), planning the apostille attested translation process from the outset prevents losses of both time and money.
Localization or sworn translation? A comparison of two specializations
Placing these two fields, which represent opposite ends of the industry, side by side makes it easier to understand the direction of the transformation. The table below summarizes general practice as at the date of publication:
| Criterion | Game / content localization | Sworn and notary-approved translation |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Creating a natural experience in the target culture | Ensuring the document's legal validity |
| Degree of freedom | High; adaptation and rewriting are permitted | Low; strict fidelity to the original is mandatory |
| Approval mechanism | Client approval and quality assurance (LQA) | Translator's stamp/signature; notarization and apostille where required |
| Use of AI | Widespread; under human editorial oversight | Limited; final responsibility lies with the signing translator |
| Typical content | Game texts, user interfaces, marketing content | Diplomas, transcripts, contracts, judicial and medical documents |
As can be seen, the two fields are not rivals but branches of the same profession requiring different skill sets. This is precisely where the strength of today's translation agencies comes into play: teams like Ziya Tercüme, which can manage both creative content projects and official document processes under one roof, can match the right expert and the right chain of certification to the client's needs.
A step-by-step roadmap for document holders: the busy August-September season
While these transformation debates continue, the calendar is also at a critical point: August and September are the peak months for official translation demand due to overseas university enrolments, diploma equivalency applications and employment contracts. For example, in the scenario of an engineer educated abroad seeking degree recognition in Turkey, the complete translation of diplomas and transcripts is the cornerstone of the process; the application fee set by YÖK (the Turkish Council of Higher Education) for diploma equivalency applications, valid for 2026, is TRY 1,250. For documents such as diplomas, transcripts and course descriptions, working with a team experienced in academic translation reduces the risk of rejection due to terminology errors.
The sequence we recommend for a smooth process is as follows:
- Obtain the current requirements of the institution you will submit the document to in writing (is only a sworn translation required, or notarization, or an apostille?).
- Obtain the original of the document and, if necessary, a recently dated copy; some institutions do not accept documents with old dates.
- Have the sworn translation prepared by a translator well versed in the language and terminology of the destination country.
- If the institution requires it, complete the notarization; keep in mind that this step involves a separate fee item.
- For documents to be used abroad, obtain the apostille certificate from the competent authority (the provincial or district governorship, or the relevant judicial authority for judicial documents).
- Before submission, check that the spelling of names, dates and document numbers match the original exactly.
There are pitfalls to watch out for as well: going to a notary to 'get certified' a text prepared with machine translation from the internet will not work; a notary only certifies translations signed by a translator who holds an oath deed. Also remember that the apostille-translation order can vary from country to country, and the wrong sequence can send the process back to square one. Fees and turnaround times are subject to change; the amounts in this article are based on the official announcements valid as at the date of publication.
Next steps for aspiring translators and service buyers
For those about to enter the profession, the message is clear: using AI tools effectively and investing in translation technologies and a specific field of expertise (law, medicine, gaming, academia) is no longer a preference but a necessity. For translators who have deepened their expertise and are technologically literate, demand is not shrinking — it is shifting towards higher-quality work. We would be delighted to welcome language professionals who share this vision to our team; you can reach us via our translator application page.
For service buyers, the summary is this: the type of your content determines which translation approach you need. The Turkish launch of a mobile game and the submission of a diploma to a university in Germany are two entirely different services from the same professional group. If you are not sure which category your document or project falls into, you can send your document and request a free quote, and ask for guidance on the type of translation, the chain of certification and the estimated turnaround time. A properly planned process both saves time in the busy season and prevents costly surprises such as document rejection.
Sources
- Anadolu Agency — The translation industry is being transformed by AI and digital game adaptations
- HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law) — Apostille Convention status table of contracting parties
- YÖK Recognition and Equivalency — Equivalency Application and 2026 fees
- DonanımHaber — This week in the AI world (3 August 2026)