This paper presents the results of an exploratory pilot study from the Cypriot context, which forms part of a larger ongoing project comparing AI-generated translations of ethically challenging texts with the choices made by humans. More specifically, it attempts to explore the possible ethical stances produced by AI-generated translations as opposed to the ethical stances adopted in human translations. The study examines a politically sensitive article on a landmark legal case concerning the right of Greek Cypriot refugees to reclaim land in the occupied areas of Cyprus after the Turkish invasion of 1974. The article, which appeared on a free online platform, presents the legal battle in a highly controversial way, if seen from the perspective of the Republic of Cyprus. Methodologically, several ‘rich points’ (i.e., instances where the ideological narrative adopted by the author is particularly evident) were first identified in the original English text, which was then translated two times into Greek by three different AI and AI-supported systems (ChatGPT, Gemini and eTranslation), one time following a very simple prompt, the next time following a more targeted prompt. The AI renditions of the initially identified rich points were then compared both with one another and with those produced by students during an exercise in an introductory translation course at the University of Cyprus. The preliminary results show that AI-supported outputs a) vary regarding extreme adaptations (in line with the human renditions), b) are rather literal, albeit they partly reveal significant attempts at making low-risk ethical ‘decisions’, and c) reproduce existing, deeply rooted ethical stances without prior ethical reasoning or a contemplation of responsibility (contrary to most human renditions). This points to the urgent need for consistent ethical reasoning and responsible action while post-editing ethically complicated and challenging texts.
Georgios Floros is Associate Professor in Translation Studies at the University of Cyprus, Department of English Studies. He received a BA in German Studies with a major in Translation from the University of Athens in 1995, and a PhD in Translation Theory from Saarland University, Germany, in 2001. His research areas include translation theory and methodology, translation ethics, pragmatics, translation pedagogy, terminology, translation history and the uses of translation in other disciplines. He was academic coordinator of the MA in Conference Interpreting (2004-2007) and has participated in or led international and locally funded projects. He is the author of the monograph Kulturelle Konstellationen in Texten, of several articles and chapters in international refereed journals and handbooks, as well as co-editor of a volume on Translation in Language Teaching and Assessment and of a volume on ‘Unstated’ Mediation: On the Ethical Aspects of Non-Professional Interpreting and Translation.
