WSJ Tech News Briefing Google’s New Translation Service Puts Your Voice in Another Language
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May 21, 2025 Google introduces an innovative real-time translation service for video chats, allowing users’ voices to be translated live. A tech columnist shares insights on accuracy and usability. The conversation shifts to the growing tech divide, with a focus on how American dominance poses challenges for European economies. Regulatory hurdles and cultural differences are explored as barriers for U.S. companies looking to enter the European market, along with discussions on how AI could fuel innovation despite these obstacles.
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Google Translate Mimics Voice
- Nicole Nguyen shared how Google's AI mimics her voice to translate her speech into Spanish in real time on Google Meet.
- Her colleagues and husband found the voice authentically similar to hers, highlighting the technology's impressive voice cloning.
Early Translation Can Stumble
- Google's new live translation can start with rough and stuttered speech as the AI tries to predict words in real time.
- The translations improve toward the end of a conversation, becoming clearer and more understandable.
Use Requires Google Gemini Subscription
- To use Google's live translation on Meet, you need a Google Gemini AI subscription costing $20 or more a month.
- You select your spoken language and desired hearing language to enable real-time translation during calls.