Once again, Google has unveiled its latest advancement in communication technology, this time integrating real-time translation capabilities into Google Meet. Users can now converse in English and Spanish during a video call, with the app translating their words seamlessly as they speak. This development may sound reminiscent of previous announcements from Google regarding similar functionalities.

For some time now, Google Translate has offered features that facilitate real-time conversations in different languages. Notably, in 2019, Google announced the Interpreter Mode within Google Assistant. Additionally, Pixel devices and various Samsung models have incorporated similar features for some time. Most available options have leaned towards text-to-text or speech-to-text integrations. Although the Google Translate app does support a speech-to-speech format, similar to Google Assistant’s Interpreter Mode, it typically requires in-person interactions.

What sets this new feature apart? During the recent I/O keynote, Google showcased a video chat scenario with two users communicating in their native tongues. Google Meet translates their dialogue in real-time, delivering the translated messages with a voice that mimics human speech. Presently, this functionality is only available to Google Workspace subscribers (starting at $7/month), which unfortunately means that free users will not have access to it. On a positive note, Google has indicated that support for additional languages will be rolled out in a matter of weeks.

Despite not having directly experienced this feature yet, it appears to streamline a function that previously required juggling between multiple devices or applications. Hearing translations vocally can also feel more intuitive than reading translated text. However, there is a curiosity about whether this tool can maintain the natural cadence of a conversation—nobody enjoys feeling disrupted while speaking.