Amazon is testing an AI tool that automatically translates books into other languages
By ForGeeks
Amazon has unveiled a new AI-based tool that automatically translates books into other languages. The service is called Kindle Translate and is positioned as a tool for authors who self-publish their works on the platform.
Amazon’s new AI-based tool will automatically translate books into other languages.
For now, Kindle Translate is able to translate books from English to Spanish and from German to English. The company promises that more languages will be supported in the future. Right now, the tool is available in beta for select authors enrolled in the Kindle Direct Publishing program. Amazon plans a broader launch at a later date.
Books translated using Kindle Translate will be marked with a special tag. This is important because translating literary works — a complex process that requires an understanding of context, stylistics and cultural nuances. It is questionable whether an algorithm can accurately capture all these aspects. By comparison, professional translations of major literary works can take years — as fans of Haruki Murakami, for example, who often have to wait a long time for a translation of his new books, know.
As with other AI tools, questions remain about accuracy and possible «hallucinations» — situations where the algorithm comes up with text that doesn’t match the original. Amazon says all translations are automatically checked for accuracy before publication. Authors will also be able to review the translated material before release, but if they are not fluent in the target language, it will be difficult for them to assess quality.
Amazon says that all translations are automatically checked for accuracy before release.
It’s not yet known how reliable Kindle Translate will prove to be in practice, but it’s clear that Amazon is taking a major step toward automating literary translations.
