Tools Sustainability Dashboard
Scripture Forge
Moderate (1.86)AI-powered web translation editor (text-only)
Scripture Forge is a mature AI-assisted drafting platform deeply integrated with Paratext. It provides collaborative Bible translation features with smooth USFM export workflow and is recognized for thought leadership in AI for low-resource languages.
Detailed Sustainability Scores
Core tool for AI-assisted drafting, but high cost and uncertain long-term funding. Competing affordable alternatives may emerge that could challenge its market position.
Integrates emerging AI but requires significant manual engineering. Annual major updates are provided. USFM export available but limited extensibility beyond core system.
Strong track record of incorporating user feedback. Interface well-regarded by both technical and non-technical users.
Good localization and used globally. Requires constant internet for full functionality, though exports allow offline follow-up work.
Open source but infrastructure-heavy. Few open components available for reuse. Heavy reliance on core team for sustainability.
Uses open standards and APIs. Some infrastructure open for outside use, but limited evidence of external adoption or active developer community.
Strong alignment with Bible translation movement goals. Demonstrates thought leadership in AI-assisted drafting and directly contributes to AAGs and EVC.
Key Strengths
- Mature AI-assisted drafting platform in the Bible translation space
- Deep Paratext integration with smooth USFM export workflow
- Widely recognized for thought leadership in AI for low-resource languages
- Strong alignment with collective translation goals and strategic milestones
Key Recommendations
- Address funding sustainability and reduce cost levels to improve scalability
- Reduce infrastructure complexity to enable continuity without current team
- Increase offline-readiness and more modular AI deployment
- Strengthen external developer engagement to boost adoption
- Broaden interoperability beyond Paratext to serve more varied workflows
Key Sustainability Variables
1. Financial Viability, Cost-Effectiveness & Funding Sustainability
How financially viable (including all funding sources) is this solution over its lifecycle, and what regularly measurable Return-on-Investment towards major milestones (AAGs and EVC) does it offer in terms of demonstrated strategic value, efficiency and impact when compared to other relevant options?
2. Technical Adaptability, Interoperability & Extensibility
How well does the solution (regardless of size) adapt to emerging technologies (e.g. AI), integrate with existing systems, and iteratively update or extend functionality in order to reduce the frequency of complete overhauls?
3. User-Centric Adaptability & Responsiveness
How effectively does the solution continuously incorporate user feedback and remain responsive to changing needs and workflows, ensuring intuitive design and long-term cultural relevance across diverse global contexts?
4. Global Accessibility & Local Adoption
Can the solution be effectively used across all regions, and what barriers—technical (e.g. complex scripts, oral, sign), cultural (e.g. localization, customization, training), or infrastructural (e.g. scalable, offline, mobile)—might limit its accessibility (open-access) or local adoption (e.g. security risks), and does it demonstrate alignment with unmet user needs (market fit)?
5. Open Collaboration & Organizational Continuity
What is the likelihood and impact if the current development team or organization loses interest or shifts focus, and who (e.g. cross-organizational trust, capability, and knowledge-sharing) as well as what mechanisms (e.g. open-source, documentation, technical maturity, operational capacity) are in place to pick up the baton and maintain continuity?
6. Technology Standards, Reusability & Developer Support
To what extent are the parts of the solution reusable across similar solutions, and how actively does the organization pursue transparency and collaboration to enable reuse, reduce duplication across organizations, promote best practices, and advance common open standards (e.g. tech stack, frameworks, platforms) to collectively maximize the amount of work-not-done across solutions and devices?
7. Identifying with the Collective Impact Alliance
How closely does the team or organization align their identity, priorities, and efforts with the shared values and collective strategic milestones (e.g. AAGs and EVC) of the broader Bible translation movement, rather than becoming overly identified with specific solutions which may not directly advance these collective objectives?