Estonian publishers call AI-assisted translations of classic literature unethical
Two leading Estonian publishing editors say AI-generated retranslations of literary classics now appearing on the market are low-quality and unfair to readers and professional translators. They also point to shrinking print runs and rising rights costs squeezing the industry.
The editors-in-chief of Estonian publishing houses Varrak and Eesti Raamat, Krista Kaer and Piret Lemetti, have raised concerns about translations of classic literature produced with the help of artificial intelligence, arguing the practice is unfair to readers and undermines the value of professional translators' work.
Kaer said the broader market for translated literature in Estonia has not improved. Print runs have fallen sharply, and translation costs — especially for longer works — remain significant, while purchasing foreign rights adds further expense. While classic works are being well covered, largely thanks to a dedicated series, contemporary quality literature is in a much weaker position, often representing too great a financial risk for publishers.
Both editors noted that English-language books are particularly hard to publish competitively, since many Estonian readers already read them in the original. As a result, Nordic and Central European literature is gaining importance, along with interest in Asian works — South Korean literature is seeing a major breakthrough, though there are too few qualified translators to meet demand. Introducing unfamiliar foreign authors to Estonian readers is also difficult, since readers tend to favor names they already recognize.
Kaer warned that some newly released AI-assisted translations of public-domain classics, including works by Arthur Conan Doyle, are of extremely poor quality. She argued such projects exploit works no longer protected by copyright to make quick profits, producing output that can barely be called genuine translations or books.
Lemetti said she has personally come across books whose title pages openly state that artificial intelligence was used in the translation process, adding she does not understand the purpose behind such releases. In her view, this devalues the translator's profession, reducing it to little more than light editing.
Both publishers said they continue to update older translations of classics — Varrak has issued new editions of Dostoevsky, while Kaer herself has retranslated Yeats — but stressed that such work should be done with care and respect, not as a shortcut for fast profit.
