With the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), translation practices have been reconfigured in ways that reflect broader shifts in digital labor and knowledge economies. This study critically explores the benefits and challenges of AI-assisted translation from the perspective of professional translators. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 translators, each with over three years of experience, recruited from diverse linguistic, cultural, and specialization backgrounds. Thematic analysis of the Zoom interviews revealed that AI offers perceived efficiencies, such as increased productivity, cost reduction, and consistent terminology, especially in technical or repetitive tasks. These benefits are embedded within asymmetrical power relations shaped by platform capitalism and automation ideologies. However, significant challenges persist, including AI’s difficulty with cultural nuance, over-reliance on automation, post-editing fatigue, and ethical concerns like data privacy and job security. Translators stressed that AI should be used as a supportive tool, not a replacement for human expertise—particularly where creativity and cultural sensitivity are crucial. The study highlights the need for targeted training, clear ethical guidelines, and hybrid approaches that combine the strengths of both AI and human translators.