How ChatGPT can help in real-time translation

5 min readFeb 15, 2023

In today’s globalised world, being able to communicate with people from different parts of the world is becoming increasingly important. However, language barriers can often make this difficult. This is where real-time translation comes in.

Real-time translation, powered by neural machine translation (NMT), refers to the ability to translate spoken or written text instantly, as it is being produced. ChatGPT, an advanced NMT model, has been trained on a diverse range of languages and is one such option for real-time translation.

How is neural machine translation relevant?

NMT models like ChatGPT are highly relevant to real-time translation because they are able to process and translate large amounts of text quickly and accurately. This is essential for real-time translation, which needs to keep up with the pace of conversation. ChatGPT, in particular, leverages deep learning to achieve high levels of accuracy and natural-sounding translations.

Traditional rule-based translation systems have limitations when it comes to real-time translation. They rely on pre-defined rules and do not have the same ability to adapt to different contexts as NMT models do.

Real-life use case

Real-time translation can be useful in a range of situations. For example, it can be used in business meetings where participants speak different languages, or in educational settings where students from different countries need to communicate with each other.

Another example is in the tourism industry, where real-time translation can be used to provide information to visitors who do not speak the local language.

Translation software solutions available and their short review

There are a number of translation software solutions available for real-time translation. Here are a few of the most prominent options, including a couple of free ones:

Google Translate — One of the most widely used translation services, Google Translate offers real-time translation for a range of languages. It has improved its accuracy significantly in recent years and remains a popular choice for real-time translation.
Microsoft Translator — Microsoft Translator is another popular option, offering real-time translation for spoken and written text. The service can be integrated into a range of applications, including Skype and Office, and is available for free.
DeepL — DeepL is a newer translation service that has gained popularity for its high accuracy and natural-sounding translations. While it does not offer real-time translation, it is still a valuable tool for translating written text.
Papago — Papago is a translation service developed by Naver, a South Korean search engine. The service offers real-time translation for a range of languages, and its accuracy is comparable to Google Translate.

Python script for a program of real time translation

Here is a high-level overview of how we can create the program:

Use the Speech Recognition library to capture audio input from the user and convert it to text.
Use a machine translation API like Google Cloud Translation API or DeepL to translate the text into the target language.
Use a text-to-speech library to convert the translated text back into audio, and play it back to the user.
Here is a sample Python script that you can use as a starting point for your program:

import speech_recognition as sr
from google.cloud import translate
from gtts import gTTS
import os

# Set up the speech recognition engine
r = sr.Recognizer()

# Set up the Google Cloud Translation API client
translate_client = translate.Client()

# Set the target language for translation
target_lang = 'fr' # Change this to the language you want to translate to

# Start the microphone and capture input
with sr.Microphone() as source:
    print("Speak something!")
    audio = r.listen(source)

# Convert the audio input to text
try:
    text = r.recognize_google(audio)
    print("You said: " + text)
    
    # Translate the text to the target language
    translation = translate_client.translate(text, target_language=target_lang)
    print("Translation: " + translation['translatedText'])
    
    # Convert the translated text to speech and play it back to the user
    tts = gTTS(text=translation['translatedText'], lang=target_lang)
    tts.save('translation.mp3')
    os.system('afplay translation.mp3') # Replace with appropriate command for Android/IOS devices
    
except sr.UnknownValueError:
    print("Could not understand audio input")
except sr.RequestError as e:
    print("Error: {0}".format(e))

This script captures audio input from the user, converts it to text using the SpeechRecognition library, translates the text using the Google Cloud Translation API, converts the translated text back to speech using the gTTS library, and plays the speech back to the user using the os.system command.

Note that you will need to have the necessary API keys and credentials for the Google Cloud Translation API in order to use this script. You will also need to replace the os.system command with the appropriate command for playing back audio on Android/IOS devices.

Who will real-time translation benefit?

Real-time translation can benefit anyone who needs to communicate with people from different language backgrounds, including students, language enthusiasts, and professionals in a range of industries. It can also help to break down language barriers and promote understanding and collaboration between different cultures.

India is a remarkably diverse nation with a population that speaks an incredible variety of languages. India has 22 official languages in addition to English, as well as a large number of regional dialects and minority languages. It might be difficult for natives and visitors to converse successfully because there are so many different languages used in the nation.

To bridge this linguistic gap, a real-time language learning programme could be an invaluable resource. Imagine being able to travel to any part of India and immediately be able to comprehend and communicate in the native tongue. A language study programme could give you the tools you need to communicate effectively with local partners whether you’re a tourist trying to find your way around a new city or a businessperson negotiating a deal.

Real-time translation, powered by NMT models like ChatGPT, is an essential technology for our increasingly connected world. It can make it easier for people from different language backgrounds to connect and collaborate, creating a more inclusive and interconnected world.

By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, we can break down language barriers and promote cross-cultural collaboration. If you are looking for real-time translation solutions, ChatGPT, along with other translation software options like Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, DeepL, and Papago, are great places to start.

Thank you for reading! I would love to hear from you and will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you again for your time, and have a great day! If you have any questions or feedback, please let us know in the comments below or email me.

If you would like to check my other blog posts, click here.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sheriffbabu

#real-timelanguagelearning #languagetranslationprogram #Indialanguagediversity #multilingualcommunication #languagebarriers #travellanguageapp #instanttranslation #cross-culturalcommunication #languageimmersion #globallanguagetool