Google Utilizes AI Technology to Extend Google Translate’s Language Support to 110 Languages
Google has leveraged AI to significantly expand its Google Translate feature, introducing over 100 new languages
Google has leveraged AI to significantly expand its Google Translate feature, introducing over 100 new languages in what the company touts as its largest language addition to date. These languages collectively represent approximately a tenth of the global population.
In a recent blog post, Google credited its PaLM 2 large language model for enabling this expansion. PaLM 2, integrated into various Google products like Bard (now known as Gemini), played a crucial role in this milestone achievement.
The last major update to Google Translate occurred in 2022, when Google integrated 24 new languages using a different machine-learning program, bringing the total supported languages to 133 at the time. With this latest addition, Google Translate now supports a total of 243 languages. This effort aligns with Google’s commitment announced earlier to incorporate the most spoken languages into Translate through AI models, although no specific timeline was provided. Over the past two years alone, Google has introduced more than 140 new languages.
According to Google, the newly added languages encompass over 614 million speakers worldwide. Among the notable additions are languages like Cantonese, a variant of Chinese primarily spoken in southeastern China, particularly in Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Cantonese, distinct from Mandarin, presents linguistic nuances akin to differences between French and Italian, despite their shared origins.
Another significant inclusion is Punjabi, widely spoken in Pakistan. Additionally, Google has introduced smaller regional languages such as Manx, a Celtic language from the Isle of Man, and Tok Pisin, an English-based creole serving as a lingua franca in Papua New Guinea.
Google noted that the selection of languages for inclusion often stemmed from community requests or substantial volunteer contributions. For instance, languages like Afar, a tonal language spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, and highly sought-after Cantonese, were prioritized based on user demand.
As these languages integrate into Google’s Gemini platform, they are poised to enhance global communication through features like live translation, facilitating easier interactions among people worldwide.
