The 2026 NIMDZI 100 report offers one of the clearest snapshots of where the language industry stands today — and where it may be heading next. In this episode of MultiLingual Media’s Localization Today, we speak with Marjolein Groot Nibbelink, lead researcher behind the report, about the major shifts shaping the market.

The conversation explores the sharp rise in productivity driven by AI, the growing pressure on mid-market language service providers, changing staffing patterns, and why demand for experienced linguists remains stronger than many assume. They also discuss the expansion of the report into the NIMDZI 350, the role of collective intelligence in the industry, and how technology investment is reshaping localization business models across regions and company sizes.

Welocalize has been a powerhouse in the language industry for decades, but what happens when the word "localization" no longer describes everything you do? In this episode, Eddie Arrieta sits down with Paul Carr, CEO of Welo Global, to discuss leading a massive organization through a once-in-a-generation technological shift.

Paul discusses the reality of agentic systems like Opal replacing traditional CAT tools, why the industry is shifting from an artisanal model to high-volume information processing, and how enterprise demand is changing.

Interview by Cameron Rasmusson

Translated co-founder Isabelle Andrieu discusses the company’s origins, its preparations for the AI era, and the future it envisions for its many clients and translators. She also offers advice to language service professionals — build your ability to adapt — and leads by example.