The Usage of Search Engines and Artificial Intelligence in Translation

Abstract

This study reports a qualitative investigation into the use of search engines and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in students' translation activities. The research aimed to examine how search engines and AI support students in translating texts from English into Indonesian and vice versa. The participants were students enrolled in a Translation course. Data were collected through classroom observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The findings reveal that students were allowed to utilize various digital resources, including search engines and AI-powered translation tools, during translation activities. The participants perceived these technologies as beneficial in improving translation quality, particularly in producing more accurate and natural translations. Students commonly employed search engines to explore contextual meanings, consult online references, and verify terminology, while AI tools were mainly used to generate initial translations and alternative expressions. Nevertheless, the students did not rely entirely on AI-generated translations because they still questioned the accuracy and naturalness of some outputs. The students' translation performance was categorized as good, with a mean score of 78.67. Overall, the findings indicate that the combination of search engines and Artificial Intelligence plays an important supporting role in students' translation processes by providing broader linguistic resources and facilitating decision-making during translation.