Board Elections 2024 Candidate
Shrushti Chhapia
Owner, eLanguageWorld | United Kingdom | LinkedIn
"GALA's mission for global communication and be future oriented resonates with my passion for inclusivity and innovation, aligning with my commitment to advancing emerging markets."
In your view, what are the most important challenges and opportunities facing GALA?
With the rise of AI, GALA stands at the threshold of a significant opportunity. The growing need for training language models (LLMs) in multiple languages and developing specialized datasets presents a unique challenge - one where GALA can lead by establishing industry standards for these datasets. By setting benchmarks for data quality, GALA can ensure that AI models are trained effectively and equitably.
I also find that GALA can play a pivotal role in the governance of AI models. By defining standards for accuracy, responsibility, and inclusivity, GALA can advocate for a fair and ethical use of AI in the translation industry. Proactive collaboration with major tech giants like Google, Meta, AWS, and Microsoft, as well as emerging players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral, will be crucial in shaping these standards.
Another opportunity lies in preserving the world’s indigenous languages. GALA can spearhead efforts to digitize and leverage AI for the documentation and promotion of these languages, ensuring their survival and relevance in the digital age.
However, the rise of AI presents challenges regarding the future landscape of the language industry, a topic of ongoing discussion since last year. Amid these challenges, GALA can be the guiding voice, helping language companies navigate and adapt to these changes, ensuring the industry evolves in a way that benefits all.
How have you engaged with GALA as a member?
As a GALA member since 2016, I've actively participated in industry webinars, attended conferences, delivered conference session, and engaged in knowledge-sharing discussions with fellow professionals. These interactions have helped me stay updated on industry trends, and technologies, while also contributing to the global language community through shared learning.
Besides your work with GALA, how do you engage with our industry (associations, conferences, speaking, publishing, community events, etc.)?
In addition to my work with GALA, I serve as a member of the ATC Council where I particularly contribute to the discussions on technology and best practices. I actively engage in community events like LocLunch (London), Women in Localization and attend several industry conferences (GALA, ATC, ELIA). My company also contributes to industry blogs and articles, sharing insights on translation technologies and market trends.
What superpowers can you bring to board service? Describe previous board experience, leadership training, or strategic leadership you’ve had.
10 years of experience in the industry managing global business and operations.
Which segment(s) of GALA's membership do you represent? What perspective will you bring?
I represent the translation companies sector and will contribute a fresh perspective in incorporating emerging markets translation companies into the association.