An AI-powered update to Microsoft Edge coming soon will let you watch certain online videos in other languages. The new feature, announced by Microsoft at its Build conference on Tuesday, will translate videos on YouTube and a variety of other sites in real time.
The company revealed more details about real-time translation on the Microsoft Edge features page. First, this feature works with videos from YouTube, Reuters, CNBC News, Bloomberg, Money Control, LinkedIn, and Coursera. Microsoft said it is considering supporting other sites in the future.
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At this time, the number of languages included is limited. Spanish and Korean audio sources can be translated into English, and English audio can be translated into Hindi, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. More languages should become available once this feature is officially rolled out.
To address privacy concerns, Microsoft said that the translation is done entirely on your PC or phone, so no video data or content leaves your device or is processed in the cloud.
Additionally, while we strive to ensure our translations are accurate, they may exhibit imperfections and errors common to AI. In particular, translations may be affected by factors such as the source language, number of speakers, and background music.
A video clip from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's Edge features page showed how real-time translation works. For supported videos, hover your mouse over it and a small toolbar with a translation icon will appear. By clicking on the icon, you can select the source and target language, and also choose to display subtitles.
[翻訳]Clicking the button will pause the video while the audio is translated on your device. Once the translation is available, the video will resume using the target language you selected. If you select this option, subtitles will also appear at the bottom.
Plus: 3 AI features on Copilot+ PC that you wish were on your MacBook
As generative AI becomes a hot topic, Microsoft is actively incorporating artificial intelligence into its products and services, with Edge being one of the platforms that is driving this momentum. Microsoft's browser includes a Copilot sidebar that allows users to access AI tools to ask questions, search for information, generate content, and more.
Real-time translation is another AI-based feature in Microsoft's command center. The company promoted its new and upcoming Copilot+ PC product at Build this week, touting its captioning feature that displays English text over audio in several applications and video platforms. With support for over 40 languages, captions can appear in apps and services like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Chrome, and Netflix.
