AI translations will not solve Iceland’s education materials problem

Using artificial intelligence to translate foreign teaching materials will not solve problems facing Iceland’s education system or educational publishing, Iðnú Publishing director Heiðar Ingi Svansson told mbl.is. He says materials must be adapted for Iceland, translated to a high standard and developed in consultation with teachers and publishers.

Iðnú has published textbooks for upper secondary schools since 1949, with a particular focus on vocational, technical and professional subjects. Svansson called the education minister’s proposals “terrible” and said they did not address problems already identified in reports and reviews. He welcomed, however, the minister’s announcement of 455 million króna for new educational materials.

The minister has referred to the public-benefit organisation Andvari in connection with AI translations. Its supporters include a group of wealthy figures from Icelandic business, among them Ágúst Guðmundsson of Bakkavör, Brim chief executive Guðmundur Kristjánsson, investor Andri Sveinsson, Sigurður Gísli Pálmason and former Domino’s Iceland chief executive Birgir Örn Birgisson.

Svansson said it was commendable for people with the means to contribute funding, but that this did not remove the need for professional work in developing teaching materials. He said Icelandic authors, translators, publishers and teachers had expertise that should be used to adapt foreign materials to local needs.

In an interview on Kastljós, the education minister said new technology could be used to translate many times more high-quality teaching materials from abroad and help Iceland draw on the best available. The minister said 455 million króna for educational publishing could probably achieve as much as one billion króna with the help of the technology.

“AI-translated teaching materials in PDF form, sitting on some websites, are not going to change anything for the Icelandic education system,” Svansson said.

He acknowledged that foreign materials could give teachers more variety and choice, and said they should be free to select materials they consider suitable. But he said the starting point must be the needs of Iceland’s education system and how to ensure students have access to the best available resources. Iðnú’s 77 years of work, he added, have been built on close, day-to-day ties with teachers and the school community.