meta adds hindi and portuguese support for its ai translation feature for reels

Meta Expands AI Translation for Reels

Meta is strategically prioritizing Reels within the Instagram user experience, both on iPad and mobile platforms, particularly in regions like India and South Korea. To broaden accessibility and comprehension of Reels content across linguistic boundaries, the company is now extending its AI-powered translation capabilities to include support for Hindi and Portuguese on both Instagram and Facebook.

This feature was initially launched in August, offering support for English and Spanish, following its initial announcement at the Meta Connect conference the previous year. The addition of Hindi and Portuguese aims to engage creators from key markets, such as India and Brazil, enabling them to reach a wider, global audience.

Instagram's Vision for Global Reach

“We recognize the existence of numerous talented creators whose potential audience may not share the same native language,” explained Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, in an August Instagram post.

He further elaborated that by facilitating access to audiences speaking different languages and bridging cultural and linguistic divides, Meta can empower creators to expand their follower base and maximize their value within the Instagram ecosystem.

Users now have the ability to activate automatic translation into their preferred language, allowing them to enjoy Reels originally created in other languages.

Creators can enable automatic translation for their Reels by selecting the “Translate your voice with Meta AI” option prior to publication. They also retain control over the target languages for translation, with the ability to review the translated video, complete with automated dubbing and lip synchronization.

Future Enhancements to AI Translation

Meta has indicated that further advancements to its AI-powered translation features are currently in development and will be released shortly. Reels on Facebook already incorporate multi-speaker AI-powered translations, and this functionality will soon be available to Instagram creators.

Beyond voice translations, the company is also developing a method to translate text or caption stickers accompanying Reels in the supported languages. When implemented, users will be able to choose the “Translate text on Reels” option, proving particularly useful for viewers watching videos without audio.

Moreover, Meta intends to introduce a new voice-dubbing feature designed to preserve the original voice and intonation of the creator. An improved lip-syncing option, offering greater accuracy in matching mouth movements, will also be provided.

Competition and Industry Trends

Meta’s competitor, YouTube, has been actively working on translation features for several years. Just last month, YouTube released enhancements to its auto-dubbing feature’s lip synchronization, expanding support to encompass 20 languages.

These developments highlight the growing importance of multilingual content accessibility in the current digital landscape.