Google Translate has expanded its capabilities by integrating AI to include support for 110 additional languages
The integration of these new languages into Google Translate was facilitated by the PaLM 2 large language model.
On Thursday, Google Translate underwent a significant upgrade to include support for 110 additional languages. These new languages were incorporated with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Google utilized its PaLM 2 large language model (LLM), which proved particularly adept at learning related languages and regional dialects. Notably, this update also includes Indian regional languages such as Awadhi and Marwadi in Google Translate.
Google Translate gets 110 new languages
In a blog announcement, Google stated that this is the most extensive expansion Google Translate has ever undergone. Previously, the translation tool supported 133 languages. With this update, the number has increased to 243 languages. Back in November 2022, Google launched its initiative to support 1,000 languages, focusing on building AI models for the world’s most spoken languages. The addition of 110 new languages is a significant milestone towards achieving this initiative.
Google selected the new languages based on prioritizing the most widely used variants of each language. For instance, in the case of Romani, which has multiple dialects across Europe, the AI model focused on Southern Vlax Romani, a frequently used variety online. The decision also took into account the availability of text suitable for training the AI model.
Among the noteworthy new additions, Cantonese has been included, fulfilling one of the most frequent requests for Google Translate. Additionally, Afar, a tonal language spoken in Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, was added thanks to contributions from volunteer communities. It’s worth noting that a quarter of the new languages added are from Africa.
