Google adds over 100 languages to translation system

In an attempt to break the language barrier in communication, google added over 100 languages to its translation technology.

“We are rolling out 110 new languages to Google Translate, our largest expansion ever,” Google stated in its latest blog. 

“We announced the 1,000 Languages Initiative, a commitment to build AI models that will support the 1,000 most spoken languages around the world,” it added.

“From Cantonese to Qʼeqchiʼ, these new languages represent more than 614 million speakers, opening up translations for around 8% of the world’s population."

In the new languages, 25 percent represent the expansion of the African languages, including Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof.

Google has taken the fresh initiative with the collaboration of PaLM2, a key piece in the puzzle that helps in translating with more efficiency.

“Our models produce text that is closest to Southern Vlax Romani, a commonly used variety online. But it also mixes in elements from others, like Northern Vlax and Balkan Romani,” it claimed.

Google, in 2022, added 24 new languages to the translation service, and now it is focusing on increasing the number to 1000. 

Following the current addition, Google is now providing a translation facility for 243 languages.