Communications of the ACM
Artificial Intelligence Without Real Intelligence?
On the basis of selected examples, it will be examined whether language translation programs (DeepL Translator and Google Translate) are really intelligent and whether they are capable of learning. Is there a false intelligence? Do the programs understand what they write?
Errors are marked in red.
The programs sometimes use incorrect technical terms or confuse them. From time to time, the translation makes no sense.
Source text
Manche wissenschaftliche Bücher haben sowohl ein Geleitwort wie auch ein Vorwort.
DeepL
Some scientific books have both a preface and a preface.
Google Translate
Some scholarly books have both a foreword and a foreword.
Source text
Kennen Sie den Unterschied zwischen einem Geleit- und einem Vorwort?
DeepL
Do you know the difference between a preface and a foreword?
Google Translate
Do you know the difference between an introduction and a foreword?
Source text
Das Geleitwort stammt beispielsweise vom Herausgeber, das Vorwort von der Verfasserin.
DeepL
For example, the foreword comes from the editor, the foreword from the author.
Google Translate
For example, the foreword comes from the editor, the foreword from the author.
Conclusion
Both programs translate all three sentences incorrectly. They do not understand the content of the texts. Geleitwort means foreword, Vorwort equals preface.
Source text
Wir unterscheiden mehrere Arten von Rechenschiebern: Rechenstäbe, Rechenscheiben, Rechenwalzen und Rechenuhren.
DeepL
We distinguish between several types of slide rules: rake rods, calculating discs, rake rollers and slide clocks.
Google Translate
We differentiate between several types of slide rules: slide rules, slide discs, slide rulers and slide clocks.
Source text
Rechenschieber wie Rechenstäbe, Rechenscheiben, Rechentrommeln und Rechenuhren sind analoge Rechenhilfsmittel.
DeepL
Slide rules such as rake rods, calculating discs, calculating drums and calculating clocks are analogue calculating aids.
Google Translate
Slide rules such as slide rules, slide discs, slide drums and calculator clocks are analogue computing aids.
What progress have the two programs made over the past four years? For this purpose, we compare the results of the years 2019, 2020 and 2023 (see Google Translate Does Not Understand the Content of the Texts | blog@CACM | Communications of the ACM and Automatic Translators are Not Really Capable of Learning | blog@CACM | Communications of the ACM)
Source text
Es gibt hauptsächlich drei Arten analoger Rechenschieber: Rechenstäbe, Rechenscheiben und Rechenwalzen.
DeepL
2019: There are mainly three types of analog slide rules: slide bars, slide disks and rake rollers.
2020: There are three main types of analog slide rules: slide rules, discs and rollers.
2023: There are mainly three types of analog slide rules: rake rods, discs and rake rollers.
Google Translate
2019: There are mainly three types of analogue slide rules: rulers, calculating discs and raking rollers.
2020: There are three main types of analog slide rules: slide rules, calculating discs and calculating rollers.
2023: There are three main types of analog slide rules: slide rules, slide discs and slide rulers.
Source text
Zu den wichtigsten Formen der Rechenschieber gehören der Rechenstab, die Rechenscheibe, die Rechenwalze und die Rechenuhr.
DeepL
2019: The most important forms of slide rules are the slide bar, the disc rule, the screen roller and the screen clock.
2020: The most important forms of slide rules are the slide rule, the disc rule, the roller rule and the clock.
2023: The most important forms of slide rule include the rake stick, the calculating disc, the calculating roller and the calculating clock.
Google Translate
2019: Among the most important forms of slide rule are the ruler, the ruler, the rake and the ruler.
2020: The most important forms of slide rule include the slide rule, the calculation disk, the calculation roller and the calculation clock.
2023: The most important forms of slide rule include the slide rule, the slide disc, the slide rule and the slide clock.
Correct technical terms
Rechenscheibe = circular slide rule
Rechenschieber = slide rule
Rechenstab = linear slide rule, straight slide rule
Rechentrommel = cylindrical slide rule
Rechenuhr = pocket watch slide rule
Rechenwalze = cylindrical slide rule
Source text
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz gilt als Erfinder des Sprossenrads und der Staffelwalze.
DeepL
2019: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is regarded as the inventor of the sprocket wheel and the relay roller.
2020: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is considered the inventor of the sprocket wheel and the relay roller.
2023: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is considered the inventor of the rung wheel and the relay roller.
Google Translate
2019: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is regarded as the inventor of the sprocket wheel and the squadron roller.
2020: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is considered the inventor of the sprout wheel and the graduated roller.
2023: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is regarded as the inventor of the sprocket wheel and the stepped roller.
Correct technical terms
Sprossenrad = pinwheel
Staffelwalze = stepped drum
Conclusion
In these cases, the automatic translators are hardly capable of learning. The results are partly unusable. The translations are not always consistent and sometimes quite unreliable.
Herbert Bruderer ([email protected]; [email protected]) is a retired lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at ETH Zurich and a historian of technology.
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