AI Reaches Parliament: Could Replace Human Translators Soon

New Delhi: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to play a significant role in India’s Parliament, potentially transforming the way members communicate across languages. Sources have revealed to Maharashtra Times that many MPs in the Lok Sabha now deliver spontaneous speeches rather than reading prepared statements. This shift had earlier delayed the introduction of AI-assisted translation in the Rajya Sabha. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has now given the green light for using AI in the Simultaneous Interpretation Service (SIS).

AI to Support Real-Time Translation
Currently, every seat in the Parliament galleries is equipped with small earpieces, allowing MPs to hear speeches in Hindi, English, and multiple regional languages through simultaneous interpretation. The plan now is to integrate AI into this system, which senior parliamentary officials indicate could lead to the eventual phasing out of the existing SIS department by 2026.

Translation Services May Phase Out by 2026
The SIS department currently employs 21 permanent translators in the Rajya Sabha and around 50 in the Lok Sabha, covering 22 Indian languages. Each language typically has 2–3 translators for real-time interpretation. Members speaking in regional languages still need to provide advance written notice. Several translator positions in the Rajya Sabha for languages like Marathi, Konkani, Kannada, and Malayalam remain vacant.

Earlier Delays in AI Implementation
The initial AI translation plan had to be stalled because many MPs in the Lok Sabha deliver extemporaneous speeches rather than reading prepared scripts. Now, with approval from the Lok Sabha Speaker, the AI integration in SIS is moving forward, signaling a significant technological shift.

Parliament’s Translation Service Since the 1960s
India’s parliamentary translation service began in the 1960s, with expert translators seated in booths for simultaneous interpretation of English, Hindi, and other regional languages. As proceedings begin, these translators provide immediate oral translations for members. The new AI initiative may soon complement—or even replace—this decades-old human-driven system.