In 2022, Google expanded its Google Translate service by adding 110 new languages. This expansion was made possible by its Artificial Intelligence (AI) model, PaLM 2. These newly added languages include those spoken by over 614 million speakers, ranging from small indigenous communities to widely spoken languages like Punjabi and Nko.
Google aims to help people connect more easily by breaking language barriers with its latest AI technologies. With the addition of these new languages, Google Translate now supports translation for over 8% of the world’s population. The company plans to continue working with experts and native speakers to support more linguistic varieties and spelling conventions in the future.
The newly added languages include Punjabi, Nko, Tamazight, Tok Pisin and many others. About a quarter of these new languages come from Africa, such as Fon, Kikongo, Luo, Ga, Swati, Venda and Wolof. When choosing which languages to add, Google considers factors like regional varieties, dialects and spelling standards. The company prioritizes the most widely used varieties of each language to reach as many people as possible.
Google’s initiative to reach 1000 languages is an ongoing effort that aims to provide translation support for all of the most widely spoken languages globally. The recent expansion of 110 languages is just one step towards this goal
