Logos AI translation

Paul Caneparo · 2025-05-26T06:50:02+00:00

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Can you use Logos AI translation to translate into non Biblical languages?

I'm a trustee of a charity that supplies Christian books to pastors in poorer nations. We own to the publishing rights to many books where we would like to translate into the local language - mostly African languages. Historically we do this manually. Where we have tried AI we've found that AI doesn't pick up the theological nuances. We appreciate an AI translation may still need a manual check afterwards, but wonder if there's an AI service that has been trained better to understand Christianity.

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MJ. Smith

If you set the language to be translated into you will see a long list of the usual languages of commercial interest a sort excerpt

Paul Caneparo

Thanks @MJ. Smith . I only subscribe at the basic level. Do you think Logos AI could translate a whole book or is it limited to a certain number of words?

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1370240#Comment_1370240

Depends on the length of the book. I would translate chapter by chapter myself but others may well disagree.

Paul Caneparo

@MJ. Smith Thank you.

Paul Caneparo

@MJ. Smith Possibly a silly question. Does the resource need to be available in Logos to use the translate function?

MJ. Smith

I think so … I would use one of the translation services outside Logos if my resource wasn't in Logos.

Paul Caneparo

@MJ. Smith The problem we've experienced with other AI translation services is that they don't pick up on Christian nuances and seem to have a non-Christian worldview.

Bernhard

Logos uses Google Translate and DeepL. I don't think the translation inside Logos would be any different than using those services directly (but I might be wrong). I wonder if there are any other AI sites that allow you to train the AI yourself (for example by uploading existing translations of similar material).

Paul Caneparo

@Bernhard Thank you.

GaoLu

The problem we've experienced with other AI translation services is that they don't pick up on Christian nuances and seem to have a non-Christian worldview.

With careful prompting, you can enhance the Christian nuancing with external AI services. I am not sure if that is built into Logos, and if so, how. My results inside Logos have been pretty solid.

Paul Caneparo

@GaoLu Thank you.

Todd Sumrall

It is imperative that if you are going to use AI to translate, you keep a close eye on the translation. In other words, don't just throw the text into AI and accept the outcome as is. It is best if you have people well-grounded in the scriptures to review the AI translation. I would say, compare with other translations, but in your case, I am assuming you have no other translations in your target language to compare too. I am currently translating the LXX into a literal/modern English translation and the Berean Greek New Testament, too. These are observations I have made in the process. Using AI for translation is not a one-and-done way to translate. Expect to put a lot of hours reviewing, cross-referencing etc. If you don't, you will get a worldview that is not of God, thus a translation fit for the kingdom of darkness.

Paul Caneparo

Thanks @Todd Sumrall What you describe has been our experience. Hence, why I wondered whether Logos AI would have a Christian worldview and pick on theological nuances.

GaoLu

A simple test internally in Logos is to use an AI translation of a modern Bible in one language and then compare that to an actual translation. Far below is an example. I grabbed a random Scripture location, but it gives you the idea. I used the Spanish NTV and English NLT in this example.

Far Eastern Asian languages and translations can be more problematic. Hebrew and Greek may be more so yet. Perhaps one day we will have AI dedicated to specific texts and eras, but then we have further nuances of the language into which it is translated. If English, is it American? Canadian? New Zealandese? UK-ic? South African? Indian? Antarctican?

I have preached many times in a variety of foreign languages (maybe 20?) through a translator. I do my best to compare the target language of key passages with the Hebrew and Greek to the best of my limited ability. I always have the people read the passage in their own language. Then I pray that the translator is wise and knowledgeable enough to work out the limitations of preaching that way.