Google has announced the addition of 110 new languages to its Google Translate app, marking the largest expansion in the app’s history.
Previously supporting 113 languages, this significant upgrade effectively doubles the app’s linguistic capabilities, enhancing its global reach and utility.
The impressive expansion is powered by Google’s advanced PaLM 2 AI language model. This cutting-edge AI technology has been instrumental in training the software to understand and translate the new languages.
The AI model excels in learning languages that share similarities, such as Hindi, Awadhi, and Marwadi, as well as French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole. This capability has allowed Google Translate to rapidly and accurately incorporate a wide range of languages, enhancing its ability to serve diverse linguistic communities.
One of the most notable additions in this update is Cantonese. Google has acknowledged that Cantonese has been one of the most requested languages for years. However, incorporating Cantonese posed a significant challenge due to its overlap with Mandarin and the difficulty in sourcing sufficient data to train the AI model. Despite these obstacles, the inclusion of Cantonese demonstrates Google’s commitment to meeting user demands and expanding its translation capabilities.
Furthermore, Google’s blog post highlights that approximately 25% of the newly added languages are African. Each language included in the update is spoken by at least a million people worldwide, with some languages spoken by hundreds of millions. This expansion underscores Google’s dedication to supporting linguistic diversity and providing translation services to a broader audience.
The integration of these 110 new languages not only enhances the functionality of Google Translate but also underscores the transformative potential of AI in bridging language barriers. By leveraging advanced AI technology, Google is able to provide more inclusive and comprehensive translation services, catering to a wider range of linguistic needs across the globe.
With this latest update, Google Translate continues to solidify its position as a leading tool for cross-cultural communication, empowering users to connect and interact more seamlessly, regardless of language differences.