Google Translate Turns 20: AI-Powered Pronunciation Practice Launches

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Google Translate boasts over 1 billion users each month and offers support for nearly 250 languages. In honor of this milestone, Google introduced a new pronunciation practice tool for Android, utilizing AI to assess speech and deliver immediate feedback, available in English, Spanish, and Hindi in the US and India. Originally launched in 2006 as an AI project using statistical machine learning, it transitioned to neural networks in 2016 and now employs Gemini models and Tensor Processing Units. Notable achievements include reaching 95% of the global population, translating 1 trillion words monthly, and facilitating real-time conversations through Live translate, with over a third lasting more than five minutes. The most frequently translated language pair is English to Spanish, with 'Thank you' being the top translated phrase. Additional features encompass offline translation, visual translation via Lens, and Circle to Search on Android, alongside a rising interest in American Sign Language and emoji translation.