Google Translate celebrates 20 years and brings a feature users have wanted for years

Twenty years ago, Google launched one of the services that changed the way we communicate across languages. From a small experiment initially based on statistical machine learning, it gradually became a tool that, according to the manufacturer itself, is now trusted by over 1 billion users monthly. For Translate’s twentieth birthday, Mountain View has prepared a new feature that Android owners have been asking for for a long time – pronunciation training using AI is finally here.

Artificial intelligence evaluates and helps improve

The feature called Pronunciation Practice works on a relatively straightforward principle. Google Translate presents you with a phrase in a foreign language, you repeat it aloud, and artificial intelligence then evaluates your speech – specifically accent, individual sounds, and intonation. It also provides tips on what to work on. For people learning a foreign language who don’t have anyone to practice pronunciation with live, this is theoretically a very practical helper.

However, here’s the problem. The new feature has so far launched only in the USA and India, and moreover, in a relatively limited set of languages – English, Spanish, and Hindi. Google does not mention Czech in the list at all yet and has not officially announced any schedule for other markets. However, as with other AI features, it can be assumed that it will gradually expand elsewhere. When exactly, however, remains an open question.

Numbers that make Google Translate make sense

On the occasion of the anniversary, Google also revealed a few statistics that illustrate how extensive a service Translate has become over two decades. It currently supports approximately 250 languages, covering about 95% of the world’s population according to company data. Across services like Search, Lens, or Circle to Search, users translate around 1 trillion words monthly. The most frequently translated phrase remains the simple “Thank you” – or “Děkuji”.

Competition is hot on Google’s heels

Although Google Translate remains the most used translator in the world, competition has visibly intensified in recent years. German DeepL has gained great popularity both domestically and abroad, with many users rating it higher, especially for longer texts and in European languages – its translations often sound more natural and work better with context. This year, OpenAI also entered the game, launching a standalone translator under the brand ChatGPT Translate in January. While it is equipped with interesting stylistic presets, it lacks a mobile application, support for image translation, or entire documents – areas where Google Translate still clearly dominates.

Which translator do you use?

Sources: Google, CNET