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Real-time AI transcription feature will be available on Android soon [video]
Google’s new AI translation feature for Android will turn spoken language into translated text, in real-time. Here’s what you need to know.
Image via Adobe Stock
The Google Translate team finally added a new transcription feature. It was first announced back in January 2020, and will now be rolling out to Android users.
From spoken language to translated text
Even though the Translate app on Android phones went through exceptional changes over the past year, it still lacked something. We now know what that something is.
The new translation feature will allow you to record spoken words in one language and transform them into translated text on your phone.
What makes it truly remarkable is that all of this happens in real-time and without any delay for processing. The first languages to be included in the roll-out, are:
- English
- French
- German
- Hindi
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Thai
Simply “listen” to any one of those languages spoken aloud and translate it any one of the other available languages. It really is that easy.
The features will be useful for translating live speeches, lectures, or any other spoken-word events. You’ll even be able to use it for pre-recorded audio as well.
Ease of use
Think about it; this means you would be able to hold your phone up to computer speakers and play a recording in one language and have it translated into text in another without having to type the words out manually.
A spokesperson for Google told The Verge earlier this year that it will not support the option to upload audio files; however, listening to a live audio source should be a work-around to that hiccup. The Verge explains:
“Prior to this feature, you could have used Google Translate’s voice option for turning a spoken word, phrase, or sentence from one language into another, including in both text and verbal form.”
Watch: Google Translate app on Android
Do note also that part of the app “wasn’t well suited to listen to a longer translated discussion at a conference, a classroom lecture or a video of a lecture, a story from a grandparent, etc.”
Android-only now, iPhone later
According to Google, the new transcription feature will only be available on Android devices at launch. But if you’re an iPhone user, fret not. The company has plans to bring it to iOS at some point in the future.
Google claims that you would be able to pause or restart the transcription by tapping the mic icon. This could also be used to change the text size and customise dark theme options in the Translate settings menu.
Also read – Google Translate Camera tool can now translate Afrikaans into more than 100 languages
