The 2026 Language AI Report, “Borderless Business: Transforming Translation in the Age of AI”, from DeepL reveals that while enterprises are increasingly investing in AI, many have yet to integrate automation into core systems and still rely on manual workflows for critical global operations.
Based on survey data from business leaders in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan, the report examines how enterprises manage multilingual workflows today and identifies translation as one of the most overlooked – yet critical to day-to-day operations.
Key findings include:
- 35% of global businesses still rely on fully manual translation workflows
- 33% use traditional translation automation, such as translation management systems combined with human review
- Only 17% have deployed next-generation AI tools (LLMs or agentic AI) for translation, meaning 83% have not
- 33% cite global expansion as their primary driver for investing in Language AI
“AI is everywhere, but efficiency is not,” said Jarek Kutylowski, CEO and Founder of DeepL. “Most companies have deployed AI in some form, yet few achieve real productivity at scale because core workflows remain designed around people, not systems.
“That’s why fixing the workflow, not just the model, is essential.”
The report shows that translation now plays a direct role across multiple business functions, with enterprises reporting the strongest operational impact in:
- Sales and marketing (26%)
- Customer support (23%)
- Legal and finance (22%)
At the same time, the report shows growing recognition of the need for change, with 71% of business leaders saying that transforming workflows with AI is a priority for 2026. Looking ahead, respondents expect the greatest returns from AI-driven translation in customer experience, employee productivity, sales performance, and faster time-to-market, reflecting growing pressure on organizations to demonstrate measurable AI ROI.
“It’s not just about language – it’s about processes and structure,” said Harry Witzthum, Chief of Digital Transformation and AI at Caritas. “Organizations need to rethink whether their operating models are actually designed to deliver on the promises that AI brings.”
