Your next big customer doesn't speak your language. In fact, 40% of global consumers won't even consider buying from websites not in their native tongue. With 51.6% of internet users speaking languages other than English, you're potentially missing half your market. 

Until now, enterprises faced an impossible choice in addressing translation use cases. They had to choose one of the following:

• Human translators: High quality but slow and expensive
• Basic machine translation: Fast but lacks nuance
• DIY solutions: Inconsistent and risky

But the challenge with translation is, you need all three – and traditional translation methods can't keep up. This isn't just about converting words - it's about connecting with people using the right context and tone. 

That’s why at Google Cloud, we built Translation AI in Vertex AI. We’re excited to share the latest updates, and how you can apply it to your business.

Translation AI: Unmatched translation quality, but your way

Google Cloud’s Translation AI includes two offerings for you to choose from:

• Translation API Basic: An essential toolkit for translation capabilities. You can instantly detect languages and translate text using our advanced Neural Machine Translation (NMT) model. Translation AI Basic is perfect for chat conversations, short-form content, and scenarios where speed and consistency are crucial.
• Translation API Advanced: Process entire documents, run batch translations, and maintain terminology consistency with custom glossaries. You can leverage our Gemini-powered Translation model for long-form content, or use Adaptive Translation to capture your brand's unique voice and tone. You can even customize translations by applying glossary,  fine tuning our industry leading translation models, or adapting translation predictions in real time.

What’s new in Translation AI

• Expanded reach and accuracy: You can now reach global audiences with our expanded language support, now covering 189 languages — including Cantonese, Fijian, and Balinese — while maintaining lightning-fast performance, perfect for user content and contact centers.
  "Per our evaluations, Google NMT is among the best-performing real-time NMT models for 97% of the language-domain combinations we've tested (87 out of 90) -- which is 15% more than the closest competitor." -- Konstantin Savenkov, CEO & Co-Founder, Intento, Inc. 

• Smarter adaptive translation: You can customize your translations' tone and style with as few as five examples, or use up to 30,000 for ultimate precision. 
• Model selection based on your use case: Using Cloud Translation Advanced, you have the option to choose from multiple approaches based on the complexity of your translation use case. For example, you can use our NMT model for translating general text or choose Adaptive Translation for customization in real-time.
• Quality without compromise: While leaderboards and reports offer insights into overall model performance, they don't reveal how a model handles your specific needs. The gen AI evaluation service helps you pick your own evaluation criteria, giving you  a clear understanding of how well AI models and applications align with your use case. For example, Google’s MetricX and the widely used COMET correlate strongly with human evaluation, are widely used for evaluating translation quality, and available now on the Vertex gen AI evaluation service. Compare models, prototype solutions, and select the best translation approach for your needs.

We built Translation AI with a dual focus – transform how you translate and transform how you work with translation. While most vendors offer either powerful translation or easy implementation, we deliver on both in four critical ways. 

• Vertex AI for rapid prototyping: Instantly test translations across 189 languages. Compare NMT or our latest translation fine-tuned Gemini-powered model to find your perfect fit. See how your custom adaptations perform without writing a single line of code, and get immediate quality metrics to validate your choices.
• Production-ready APIs for your existing workflows: Plug our Translation API (NMT) directly into your applications for real-time, high-volume translations. Switch your model selection to our Adaptive Translation Gemini-powered model via the same Translation API when tone and context matter most. Both models integrate into your existing workflows and automatically scale with your needs.
• Customization without coding: Train custom translation models on your specific industry terms and phrases. Simply upload your domain-specific data and let Translation AI build a custom model that speaks your language. It’s perfect for specialized content in legal, medical, or technical fields—no ML expertise required.
• Full control with Vertex AI: Own your complete translation pipeline using Translation AI through our comprehensive platform – Vertex AI. With Vertex AI, you can select your preferred models, customize their behavior, and monitor real-world performance. Integrate seamlessly with your existing CI/CD processes for true enterprise-grade translation at scale.

Real impact: The Uber story

Uber is leveraging Google Cloud Translation AI product suite to achieve their mission to help people go anywhere and get anything and earn their way. 

"Operating in tens of thousands of cities worldwide, Uber prioritizes seamless communication and support for riders, drivers, couriers, and eaters across diverse languages. Misinterpretations can result in delays, frustration, and even safety concerns. For years, Google has been our trusted translation platform. With recent advancements in Translation models, automatic quality metrics, and language expansion, we’re excited to partner with Google to deliver innovative multilingual experiences to our users." — Megha Yethadka, Senior Director, Uber.

Get started with Translation AI

Here are a few resources to help you get started with the latest features in Translation AI. Gemini-powered Translation model and Adaptive Translation are publicly available to use today. You can try them out in Vertex AI Studio. 

• Translation API - Translate Text
• Adaptive Translation overview
• Translation product page
• GenAI Evaluation service overview 
• Supported Languages