Google has announced its most extensive language support update yet for Google Translate, adding 110 new languages to its service, including Dholuo, the language spoken by the Luo tribe in Kenya and Tanzania.
This update, powered by Google’s advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the PaLM 2 large language model, marks a significant milestone in breaking down global language barriers and fostering better communication worldwide.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Google emphasized its commitment to enhancing accessibility and understanding across diverse linguistic communities.
“Google Translate breaks down language barriers to help people connect and better understand the world around them. We’re always applying the latest technologies so more people can access this tool,” the company stated.
The expansion is part of Google’s broader initiative to support the 1,000 most spoken languages globally, known as the 1,000 Languages Initiative. This initiative aims to leverage AI to create translation models that cater to a wide array of languages, from major world languages to those spoken by smaller indigenous communities.
“These new languages represent more than 614 million speakers, opening up translations for around 8 percent of the world’s population.”
The addition of Dholuo and other African languages like Fon, Kikongo, Ga, Swati, Venda, and Wolof marks Google’s largest expansion of African language support to date.
Google’s approach to expanding language support includes utilizing Zero-Shot Machine Translation, where AI models learn to translate into new languages without prior examples, enhancing the platform’s adaptability and accuracy.
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