Depending on how you interpret it, the manga is about to change drastically. Well-known companies, such as the manga publisher Shogakukan, are joining forces to invest in a startup with the goal of bringing approximately 50,000 manga translated by artificial intelligence (AI) to foreign markets.
- Recommended by the creator of Vinland Saga, this manga depicts a journey of revenge against the Vikings
- This manga, with only one volume, has sold over 100,000 copies
According to a new report from Nikkei, a consortium comprised of Shogakukan (Detective Conan and Sousou no Frieren), the Japanese government's Japan Industrial Innovation Investment Corporation, and eight other companies will invest approximately 2.92 billion yen ($19 million) in an AI company that plans to translate more than 50,000 manga titles over the next five years.
Regarding manga translated with artificial intelligence (AI):
The startup detailing the investment is Orange, created in 2021, which has a diverse team including editors, AI specialists, game developers, and others.
Orange claims its AI is capable of translating manga in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods, describing its process as involving initial AI translation followed by corrections made by a human translator. The company states it could complete the translation of an entire volume in a matter of days. Furthermore, Orange collaborates with other publishers, and its AI-translated works will arrive in the United States this summer via an app. This offering will include manga for all ages, from children to adults, and there are plans to expand into Spanish-speaking markets and India.
Naturally, Orange's claims and methods will be subject to a vote. The industry's focus on AI, with Crunchyroll experimenting with anime subtitles, is generating strong reactions from fans and translators. With the introduction of AI, translators are facing layoffs and rehiring under precarious conditions, despite their translations often being considered of inferior quality.
However, the Nikkei highlights a different argument. The Japanese group CODA estimates that publishing piracy reduces the market by between 2.57 and 5.40 billion dollars. One of the main reasons for piracy is the delay in manga releases compared to Japan and Western regions.
Finally, AI-powered translations can reduce piracy by making scanlation sites for translated manga less attractive to impatient fans.
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