Google Translate Adds 110 New Languages, Including Long-Requested Cantonese

Google has announced a major update to Google Translate, adding support for 110 new languages. Previously, the service supported 133 languages, making this the largest expansion in its history. This enhancement is powered by Google's PaLM 2 AI language model, which excels in learning related languages. For example, it effectively learned languages related to Hindi, like Awadhi and Marwadi, and French creoles like Seychellois Creole and Mauritian Creole, according to Google’s Isaac Caswell in a blog post.

One of the newly supported languages is Cantonese, a long-requested addition. Caswell noted the challenge of training models for Cantonese due to its overlap with Mandarin in writing. Additionally, about a quarter of the new languages are from Africa, showcasing the diversity of this update. Most of these newly added languages are spoken by at least one million people, with several spoken by hundreds of millions. This expansion highlights Google's commitment to making its translation services more inclusive and accessible worldwide.