DeepL CEO Outlines Strategy for Dominating Mission-Critical AI Translation Markets

DeepL, the German AI translation company, is expanding its offerings with DeepL Agent, an AI tool designed to automate and streamline business tasks. CEO Jarek Kutylowski discusses the company's strategy, emphasizing its focus on mission-critical use cases and the competitive edge of being a European player in the AI market.

Expanding Beyond Translation

DeepL has always been known for its singular dedication to translation, but the launch of DeepL Agent marks a new chapter. Kutylowski acknowledges the shift, stating, "It's a fair question, that we have been also debating quite a lot internally." He believes that while focus remains crucial, the company's growth allows it to pursue multiple initiatives simultaneously.

The decision to expand was driven by customer demand. "Our customers have also been reaching out to us," Kutylowski says. "We know that you know what you're doing with AI. Can you help us also in other areas?" This new direction combines DeepL's internal drive for innovation with a response to these needs.

Competing in the Age of ChatGPT

As DeepL broadens its services, it faces increasing competition in its core business. Major chatbots now offer translation capabilities, often with impressive results. Kutylowski admits, "Within the casual 'today I need to quickly translate something' use case, there is indeed more competition. And that's totally fine." However, he sees DeepL's competitive advantage in mission-critical, enterprise-scale translation. "Where I think really the big difference lies now, and where we are working on, especially with our bigger customers, is looking at those super mission-critical use cases for those customers, those that are at the core of their business and that are really scalable," he explains.

For example, life sciences companies conducting global clinical trials require thousands of pages of documentation translated into each country's language. In such scenarios, accuracy, quality control, and legal compliance are paramount. "There's still an immense market for this," Kutylowski notes.

The European Advantage

Being a European company may provide DeepL with a competitive edge, particularly in data security and geopolitical concerns. "For a lot of companies based in Europe, I think this geopolitical question has become more important, nowadays," Kutylowski says. Companies must balance the benefits of AI with the need for data protection and regulatory compliance.

Kutylowski also joined the Strategic Group for Technology and Innovation of the federal German government to help shape the country's AI policy. However, he expresses concern that the EU's AI Act could stifle innovation. "We need to find a balance between regulation and fostering innovation," he emphasizes.

References

• DeepL CEO On Competing With ChatGPT: "Super Mission-Critical Use Cases" Are Where We Win