The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised questions about its potential impact on the subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) industry. While SDH is the standard subtitle format across many platforms, concerns have been voiced about the devaluation of human contributions in this creative field. According to Max Deryagin, chair of Subtle, a non-profit organization consisting of freelance subtitlers and translators, the intricacies of SDH go beyond mere transcription.
Meredith Cannella, a member of the Subtle committee, points out that the expectation that AI will simplify the subtitle creation process is misguided. Despite advancements such as auto-transcription, the time required to produce SDH files has not significantly decreased over the past several years. Cannella notes that while auto-transcription offers some benefits, it ultimately does not reduce overall production time due to the number of corrections needed.
The quality of AI-generated SDH is often inadequate, prompting significant revisions by human subtitlers, which can lead to low compensation. Rachel Jones, an audiovisual translator and fellow Subtle committee member, emphasizes that the current payment rates do not reflect the work involved, making it increasingly difficult for professionals to earn a living wage.
The SDH role is essential for enabling the deaf and hard-of-hearing community to engage with film and television. As noted by Teri Devine from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People, effective subtitles allow these communities to connect with popular culture. However, the diverse needs within this audience pose challenges for subtitlers, who must balance various preferences for emotional cues and contextual information.
Deryagin argues that AI lacks the capacity to interpret sounds meaningfully, particularly in relation to cinematic context. Current AI technologies cannot adequately replicate the nuanced decision-making that professional subtitlers bring to their work. Examples of problematic AI-generated subtitles, as seen in Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” have highlighted these limitations. While organizations like the BBC maintain that they do not use AI for their SDH, some broadcasters have started to explore its applications.
In summary, while AI may play a role in the future of subtitling, its current impact raises significant concerns among professionals regarding quality, compensation, and the essential human element in SDH creation.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/23/subtitlers-replaced-by-ai-sdh