720 politicians. 24 languages. 552 possible translation directions. And everything happens in real time!
Today I had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament in Brussels, invited by Bart Weijers from SMC.
What an impressive experience!
We got an extensive behind-the-scenes explanation of how European politics works. The political groups, the different countries, lobbying, negotiations and, of course, the enormous cultural differences.
Just imagine bringing together 720 Members of the European Parliament from 27 countries, each with their own interests, cultures and political views.
And then there’s the language challenge!
With 24 official languages, there are 552 possible translation directions, or 276 language pairs. Sometimes translations even go through an intermediate language. For example, from Swedish to English and then from English to Portuguese.
And all of this happens live, with just a few seconds of delay.
Incredible!
And it got me thinking about AI.
Imagine if every conversation could be translated instantly, in every direction, with almost perfect accuracy. No delays, no complicated translation chains and fewer language barriers.
How much could that improve communication, relationships and perhaps even political decision-making?
Of course, understanding each other’s words isn’t the same as understanding each other’s culture. But it would be a fascinating step forward.
I have enormous respect for all the hardworking politicians, interpreters and staff who keep this incredibly complex system running every single day.
Europe is such a fascinating continent, with so many countries, cultures and differences. And right here in Brussels, all those worlds come together.
Add AI, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological developments, and you realise just how dynamic the times we’re living in really are.
What a privilege to experience a small part of it from the inside!
Thank you, Bart, SMC and the wonderful group of entrepreneurs and professionals for this experience!
And now I’m curious: will AI eventually replace live interpreters in the European Parliament?
Sales Management Club (SMC)
European Commission
