The language industry is at a turning point. Clients expect speed, quality, and smart use of AI. Teams want clarity and skills that actually help them do the work. In this episode of the Localization Fireside Chat, I speak with Peter Medahian, President of the Canadian Language Industry Association, and Kim Pines, CLIA Treasurer, about Reclaim 3.0, a live AI upskilling program designed for language companies. Built with Magic Beans, the program focuses on practical adoption, real workflows, and a learning community that removes guesswork. If you lead a localization function or run an LSP, this conversation offers a roadmap to move from AI awareness to true readiness. Register
From awareness to readiness, the trust phase
Peter and Kim describe the industry’s moment as a trust phase. Buyers want better value from translation and interpreting. Teams want tools that make their day easier, not harder. Trust grows when leaders pair experimentation with governance. Start small, define the outcome, and measure what matters. In practice, that looks like a contained pilot in one product line, a clear review loop for risk and compliance, and a transparent set of criteria that shows when AI output is ready for publication. Trust is not a slogan. Trust is a process, and it is earned through predictable results that real people can see. Register
Leveling the field for small and midsize agencies
CLIA built Reclaim 3.0 to help smaller teams stand shoulder to shoulder with larger players. The program meets companies where they are and moves them forward with a clear cadence. Live weekly sessions reduce the time it takes to make smart decisions. Templates and checklists compress the learning curve. Pricing is set by company size, which removes a common blocker. The result is a level playing field. Small agencies do not need a lab to get started. They need a structure, a focused community, and a set of wins that they can repeat and scale. Register
Workflows, not buzzwords
A theme that runs through the episode is simple. AI is useful when it is attached to a workflow that humans trust. That means concise briefs, consistent terminology, risk based review, and automation that removes low value steps. Think pre translation checks, term suggestions, quality alerts, and routing content to the right review level. The goal is not to replace people. The goal is to free people to do the parts of the work that require judgment, nuance, and client context. When AI supports clear roles and clear handoffs, quality and speed improve together. Register
Try it, tune it, scale it
Reclaim 3.0 is not a theory class. It is a practical loop. Try one use case, tune it with data and feedback, then scale it when results are stable. Start with a small language pair where the model performs well. Track turnaround time, quality, and cost per word against a baseline. Review errors with a human in the loop and document what fixes the issue. Once the numbers hold, turn that process into a standard. This loop protects quality and helps leaders communicate progress to clients and executives in business terms, not just technical terms. Register
Skills, culture, and change that sticks
Tools change fast, people change slower. Peter and Kim emphasize that lasting adoption comes from skills and culture, not only licenses. The program builds core literacy for linguists, project managers, and leaders. It shows how to ask the right questions of vendors and tools. It creates shared language for quality, risk, and compliance. Most of all, it treats upskilling as a habit. Learning happens live each week, then it continues as teams apply lessons to real jobs and share outcomes with peers. That is how confidence grows across a company, one small win at a time. Register
Getting started, a simple plan
If you are unsure where to begin, follow this three-step plan. First, pick one high-frequency content type and one language pair. Second, define success in a sentence and agree on how you will measure it. Third, give the team two weeks to run the loop, report results, and decide the next move. Add a trust layer that fits your sector, for example, confidentiality checks in healthcare or legal review for sensitive content. This plan fits both in-house teams and agencies, and it aligns with the structure inside Reclaim 3.0.
Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/SxpOolwmpek
Call to action and contact
If this conversation helped you, share it with a colleague who is navigating the same shift. For more conversations with industry leaders, subscribe to the Localization Fireside Chat on YouTube, follow us on LinkedIn, and join the discussion. If you want details on the course mentioned here, visit CLIA and look for Reclaim 3.0, built with Magic Beans. To get in touch about the show, reach out to Robin Ayoub at L10NFiresideChat@gmail.com Register
Disclaimer
The Localization Fireside Chat podcast is a personal project. Views shared are those of the host and guests. Content is not sponsored, not an endorsement, and does not represent any organization or affiliation. Shared solely for informational and community building purposes.
Robin Ayoub 
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