AI writing tools will not fix academia’s language discrimination problem

I'm surprised you were 'offended' by that feedback. I wouldn't call it 'hurtful'..much feedback I've received over the years has been far more trenchant than that! The reviewer's point of view is not universally held by everyone, but it's not uncommon - particularly among slightly older readers (as most reviewers would probably tend to be.)

I like your Babel-fish idea! I would imagine the technology is already good enough, or soon will be. It always makes me uncomfortable that academics almost everywhere are required to write in English, even if it is a great benefit to me, as a virtually monoglot English speaker.