“AI won't replace humans.
But humans with AI will replace humans without AI.”
— Harvard Business Review
I am augmented!
And I offer enhanced solutions.
I am often asked if, when wearing my writer or translator hat, I am concerned about Artificial Intelligence taking over the profession. Here's my response.
My native language is Spanish. My fascination with languages ignited in my teens, starting with French, Hebrew, and Greek. As a young adult, I added Portuguese, English, and a touch of Finnish. This linguistic journey laid the foundation for a career dedicated to the intricate world of words.
At 25, I embarked on a career in language and language technology. I enjoyed the human interaction of hiring, training, and managing Machine Translation (MT) teams for French, German, and Spanish. At the time, the output of MT left much to be desired, but that's when I began the process of becoming an expert post-editor—a copyeditor specialized in editing copy generated by a computer. This, along with developing an expertise in American English, Neutral Latin American Spanish, and Spanglish, proved invaluable when helping develop communications designed for USA Latin communities.
Fast-forward to today's powerful AI tools. As a wordsmith, I'm captivated by the ever-evolving human-machine collaboration and the remarkable advancements in deep learning. I now leverage this technology not as a replacement for human expertise, but as an enhancement.
When I use AI, I rely on specialized linguistic tools, R&D crawlers, and semantic analysis algorithms. My use of AI is also meticulously tailored to client contracts; some restrict it, while others offer more flexibility.
I truly enjoy this dance with technology. Beyond just boosting productivity, it inspires new ways of thinking—even when some of that thinking is done by a machine prone to occasional hallucinations. This dynamic interaction broadens perspectives and refines the very craft of communication.
The bottom line: I've always enjoyed copyediting, and the post-editing that's been a function in Machine Translation for decades. Today I use these editing chops to review and fact-check copy generated by AI, transforming raw output into compelling, nuanced, and relevant narratives.
Testimonials
“I love working with Rico! His sentences are tight, his word choice exact, his transitions breezy. Whether it's reviewing copy I've written or working together live on a document, Rico not only improves the material, but also makes me a better writer.
The quality of Rico's work has earned my highest — and spontaneous — praise: “You're so #^%* good!”
— Cecily Sommers
Business Futurist, Author
“Rico is responsive, innovative, and confident. I enjoy working with him, he gives genuine, timely feedback, and he always comes through with rush projects. His work is flawless!”
— Nicole Harrison, CEO
SN Digital Agency
“My recent collaboration with Rico Vallejos has profoundly reshaped my appreciation for the art of communication. His ability to transmute intricate concepts into compelling narratives was nothing short of remarkable. Rico's talents shine brightly in a field where nuance and resonance are paramount. His contributions were instrumental in elevating our project to new heights, and I have no hesitation in speaking about his unparalleled skill set.”
— Yvette Baudelaire, MS
Baudelaire Consulting, LLC
“Rico’s quality of work is superb, his attention to detail on cultural and linguistic nuances is top-notch, and he’s very organized about projects. I highly recommend his work.”
— Pat Anderson
Pearson Assessments
