Abstract: This study analyzes panel proposals and speech abstracts from the four congresses of the European Society for Translation Studies (2016–2025) in order to identify salient trends and underlying concerns in international translation research. Findings reveal a continuous expansion of conceptual boundaries of translation, particularly under the impact of generative AI. The traditional “transfer” paradigm shows epistemological limitations in accounting for human-AI collaboration, dynamic text production, and meaning negotiation. A growing engagement with complexity theory suggests a rethinking of translation’s ontological and cognitive foundations. The study offers insights for Chinese scholarship to engage with global developments and contribute to cross-cultural academic dialogue.