Introduction: Navigating the Paradigm Shift–Translation Studies in the Age of AI

This introductory chapter examines the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on Translation Studies, focusing on the paradigm shift in translation practices, research methodologies, and educational approaches. It explores how AI technologies, particularly large language models (LLMs), are reshaping the nature of translatable content, transforming translation processes, and redefining the role of human translators. The chapter analyses the reevaluation of core translation theories, the expansion of research objects and methods, and the reimagining of translator education in the AI era. It discusses both the immediate surge in research opportunities brought about by AI-integration and the long-term challenges that may affect the discipline’s prominence and distinctiveness. By highlighting opportunities for adaptation and reinvention, the chapter sets the stage for a comprehensive examination of the current state and future trajectories of Translation Studies in an AI-dominated landscape.