DeepL breaks down language barriers with groundbreaking voice translation

In May, Cologne-based DeepL, which has been a pioneer in AI-based text translation since its founding in 2017, completed a significant investment round, raising $300 million and increasing its valuation to $2 billion. This investment was made by notable firms including Index Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, and Teachers' Venture Growth. With this funding, DeepL is expanding its services to include real-time voice translation, aiming to tackle common communication challenges in multilingual contexts. The voice translation service is designed to address issues that arise in speech translation, such as incomplete input and pronunciation difficulties, allowing users to communicate more effectively irrespective of language barriers. The new service is initially available for users speaking English, German, Japanese, Korean, Swedish, Dutch, French, Turkish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Italian. However, the translation capability extends to a total of 33 languages supported by DeepL. The feedback from early users has been positive, highlighting the impact of the voice translation feature on improving collaboration and teamwork. For instance, Christine Aubry, the internationalisation coordinator at Brioche Pasquier, emphasized how DeepL Voice has bridged gaps between their global teams, fostering better communication across their operations. DeepL's voice translation represents a significant advance in their mission to facilitate global communication. By leveraging advanced AI technology to address nuances in spoken language, DeepL aims to create a seamless communication experience for businesses and individuals alike. The introduction of voice translation also reflects a growing trend of organizations seeking to enhance their international presence by employing existing workforces for global outreach rather than hiring locally. As businesses increasingly operate in diverse linguistic environments, DeepL's enhancements position it as a critical tool for many organizations. Overall, the launch of the voice translation service not only fortifies DeepL’s position in the translation market but also enhances its value proposition for companies looking to globalize their operations. As they continue to innovate and address the complexities of multilingual communication, DeepL’s advancements are expected to lead to more inclusive and effective interactions in an increasingly interconnected world.