The Last Interpreter [Sci-Fi Short Story]

In 2061, Song Xi signs certificates confirming AI translations are correct. Today she found something that wasn't.

In 2061, Song Xi is the only certified interpreter still working at the UN.

After the 2054 arbitration case — an AI translation omitted a single negative word in a Persian contract, reversing a clause, triggering two years of $300M litigation — the UN required human certification for AI translations of legal documents.

Not retranslation. Review. Signature. Song Xi is the last one who shows up.

At 2 PM, document twenty-nine: a multilateral climate agreement annex, French original, AI-translated into five languages.

The French: "les obligations des parties prenantes ne saurait être réduites unilatéralement"

AI Chinese translation: the parties' obligations may not be unilaterally reduced.

Correct. Standard. She almost signed.

But the French was subjunctive mood. The translation was indicative.

Semantically equivalent. But in legal interpretation, the distinction matters.

She checked the signatories: 23 countries, seven with documented histories of unilaterally withdrawing from international agreements.

Someone might use this someday.

She wrote a 300-word annotation: suggested revised phrasing, flagged the mood distinction, recommended legal review.

Then signed.

Those 300 words took two hours.

She didn't know if the legal team would act on it.

But it's what she saw. She wrote it down.

In the elevator, a young staffer asked: "What do you even do over there? Isn't it all machines?"

Song Xi: "Sign things."

He laughed, thinking she was joking.

She walked out thinking: I'm not entirely sure it's a joke.

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