Google Translate expands to 110 new languages using GenAI, bridging gaps in similar and lesser-known languages.
Thanks to GenAI, Google Translate has added support for 110 new languages. This expansion addresses long-requested languages like Cantonese, which shares a writing system with Mandarin, making it challenging for traditional machine-learning models to distinguish between them. GeneAI helped overcome this obstacle by learning the nuances between closely related languages.
The key to this advancement is Google’s PaLM 2 large language model. It enabled the translation of languages like Awadhi and Marwadi, which are similar to Hindi and Creole languages with minor regional variations. This AI-driven approach allows Google to handle the intricacies of languages with overlapping characteristics.
Google’s ultimate goal is to support at least 1,000 languages. Differing regional dialects and spelling standards within the same language pose significant challenges, but AI advancements have made substantial progress. Recent additions to Google Translate include Portuguese (as spoken in Portugal instead of Brazil), Tibetan, Sicilian, and Tahitian.
GenAI has also enhanced the quality of translations, proving more effective than traditional machine translation. With the support of PaLM 2, Google continues to improve translation quality, aiming to offer accurate and comprehensive language support worldwide.