Algorithms · November 2026Gaffe level: Blunder
Canada's AI Translation Tool Keeps Making Hilarious Mistakes
Canada's federal government has been using an AI translation tool, GCtranslate, for about six months, and documents CBC/Radio-Canada obtained through a Freedom of Information request show it has been riddled with errors. It translated 'TB,' the abbreviation for the transportation bureau, as 'Tuberculosis,' changed someone's name from 'Mike' to 'Stephanie,' turned 'Buy Canadian Policy' into 'Buy a Canadian policy,' and rendered a shorthand for 'cumulative growth' as 'sperme croissance.' Experts warned that a bad translation on a tax form could exclude French speakers from a credit or benefit, and poor translations of equipment manuals could cause injuries. The tool is a pilot project, and translators are retraining the models.
Source: MobileSyrup
Saft Opened Solid-State Battery Lines for Electric Aircraft
French battery maker Saft opened new production lines in Bordeaux for solid-state batteries aimed at electric aircraft and space, after more than a decade of research. The technology promises up to 50 percent more energy density than lithium-ion plus better safety, and Saft has already delivered semi-solid-state cells to Safran for evaluation.
Source: Interesting Engineering