AI video translation is the process of using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to automatically translate video content from one language to another.
Have you heard about HeyGen yet? It’s the first tool of its kind that integrates translation, voice cloning and lip-syncing.
It’s an AI platform that translates video content into 10 different languages. But that’s not the coolest part. It also syncs your lips to your new voice, so the final clip looks (and sounds) as realistic as possible.
Some questions pop up right away, though? Is it accurate? What are the implications, benefits, and potential drawbacks of this technology?
Let’s discuss, but after a brief look at what you need to know about AI video translation.
AI Video Translation – What You Need to Know
AI video translation is a powerful tool for breaking language barriers and reaching a global audience. It offers automation, real-time translation, and customization, but it requires careful quality control and consideration of ethical, legal, and data privacy aspects.
Here’s some specific considerations to keep in mind.
Automation
AI video translation automates the process of translating video content, making it faster and more cost-effective than traditional manual translation methods. This is especially useful for businesses and content creators looking to reach a global audience.
Multilingual Accessibility
AI video translation allows content to be made accessible to a wider, global audience, as it can provide translations in multiple languages. This can be particularly beneficial for educational content, entertainment, and marketing efforts.
Real-Time Translation
Some AI translation tools can provide real-time or live translation of spoken content in videos, making it possible to host events, webinars, or conferences with participants who speak different languages.
Accuracy
The accuracy of AI video translation has improved significantly in recent years due to advancements in machine learning and neural network models. However, it is essential to note that AI translation may not always be 100% accurate, and errors can occur, especially with idiomatic expressions or complex language nuances.
Customization
Many AI translation solutions can be customized to suit the specific needs and vocabulary of the user, making them more accurate and contextually relevant.
Integration
AI video translation tools can often be integrated into existing video editing software or streaming platforms, making it more convenient for content creators and businesses.
Voiceovers and Subtitles
AI video translation can provide translations through voiceovers, where a synthetic voice narrates the translation, or through subtitles, where translated text is displayed on the screen. The choice between these two options depends on the context and the preferences of the audience.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Depending on your content, you may need to consider copyright issues and permissions for translating and distributing video content in different languages. Additionally, ensure that the translations are culturally sensitive and avoid offensive or inappropriate content.
Quality Control
While AI video translation tools have improved, they still require human oversight for quality control. Reviewing the translated content for accuracy and cultural appropriateness is crucial, especially for important or sensitive materials.
Data Privacy and Security
Be mindful of the data privacy and security implications of using AI video translation tools. Ensure that your chosen solution complies with relevant data protection regulations and that sensitive content is handled securely.
Cost and Licensing
The cost of AI video translation services can vary depending on the provider and the scale of your translation needs. Licensing and subscription models are common, so consider your budget and requirements carefully.
Take HeyGen, for example. A basic creator account will cost you $24 USD per month. There is a free version, but the processing time is incredibly long, and it could take hours, days, or even weeks to process a video if you don’t upgrade to the paid version.
The Big Question – Can you trust AI Video Translation
With HeyGen’s AI video translation tool, you can upload a video (minimum 30 seconds) of yourself speaking in English, Spanish, French, Chinese, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Hindi or Japanese.
You can then choose whether you want the output to be in Spanish, French, Hindi, Italian, German, Polish, Portuguese or English.
How does it work? Is it reliable?
According to early reports, “HeyGen Lab’s beta AI video translation tool can make it seem like you’re speaking another language pretty convincingly. However, the translation isn’t perfect, similar to that of existing machine translation capabilities. It lacks localization, and while native speakers are likely to still get the message, the content comes across as unnatural and without emotion.”
HeyGen still needs work when it comes to:
- Translation accuracy
- Understanding accents
- Reading tone
- Cultural context
That all requires human-assisted data collection and specialized annotation.
Likewise, and as we’ve discussed previously with respect to ChatGPT and translation, AI is quick and simple, and you can get it done rather inexpensively. The quality, however, isn’t outstanding.
But to really break down language barriers and preserve the authenticity and personality of the creators, you still need human touchpoints in the process. That will ensure that the content resonates with viewers worldwide.
We still need human review for more in-depth localization and translation projects to achieve the highest levels of accuracy. And that’s especially true for low-resource languages.
Machine translation with human touchpoints is where you’ll find a balance between quality and cost efficiency.
With post-edited machine translation, you can achieve some semblance of balance.
That’s the process of revising and refining your content after it has gone through machine translation. A human translator checks the content to make sure it’s not only accurate, but also has the right voice and tone and is culturally appropriate.
That’s why you should invest in hybrid machine translation services.
Get Quality, Affordable Translation
Summa Linguae is reinventing multilingual content creation as a market leader for localization and multilingual AI solutions.
Utilizing data, automation, and human expertise, we build language solutions that help you do more for less. The result is cost savings and greater efficiency with the right blend of human and machine.
We’re big on flexibility and offer specialized services to meet your needs and make language easy.
AI steps in for evaluation as a quick step between MT and PE.
This saves both time and money without compromising the quality and your brand.
Contact us today to get started with hybrid machine translation services.
