Microsoft to Bring Intelligent Translation to Teams Mobile

With so many companies utilizing Microsoft Teams, it’s not uncommon for employees to work in an environment where multiple languages are spoken. Although this is a major plus for a company’s diversity, exchanging information or business collaborations can come to a screeching halt if employees can’t communicate smoothly and effectively.

If employees are finding themselves confused by Microsoft Teams messages that are in a foreign language, this issue may no longer exist thanks to the new update coming to the Teams service. Microsoft has been working on what they have been dubbing “intelligent translation” for Microsoft Teams Mobile users. This update will be launching for Android and iOS users very soon, and this feature will mean that users will be able to quickly translate dozens of foreign languages, making sure that there are no delays or errors in communication or collaboration.

The Microsoft 365 roadmap entry for this new feature notes that the tool will prompt users to translate any message that is not their language. As of right now, Microsoft hasn’t listed the exact languages that users will be able to translate, but it’s very likely that the usual full range of languages will be offered. The tech mogul also noted that this new feature should be launching in August 2022, meaning that Android and iOS users alike will be able to use it in just a few weeks.

The latest step forward for Microsoft Teams and its improved translation tools is that they aim to connect users around the world, as well as remote workers who may not always need to come to work. The first time these plans for real-time translation for Teams Mobile users were announced was back in May 2021 with the goal of boosting global communication.

In March of 2022, Microsoft started using a new AI technology called Z-Code, and this saw significant improvements to the quality of production for Microsoft translation models. With Z-Code, AI systems have the support to create, speak, see, hear, and understand, and it has already been used for Microsoft’s Translator software and a number of AI services in Azure.

Earlier this year, Microsoft rolled out a different form of real-time translation for desktop video meetings that gave users access to a network of professional interpreters that could be dialed into a meeting at the request of a user. During a session, a Teams user can switch between the original audio and the interpreter’s translation by using the drop-down menu. But with the new intelligent translation for mobile users, interpreters will no longer be a necessity for cross-language communication since messages can be translated at the push of a button. Stay on the lookout for the update in August!