OpenAI has launched a new translation tool called ChatGPT translate: Here’s how it works

OpenAI

• OpenAI has launched a new translation tool called ChatGPT Translate, taking a clear step into a space that has long been dominated by Google Translate.
• The new tool is simple to use and will feel familiar to most people. It comes with two text boxes, one for the text you want to translate and another for the translated result. The tool can automatically detect languages and supports translations to and from more than 50 languages. On a phone browser, users can also speak into the microphone to translate spoken words.
• At a basic level, ChatGPT Translate does what any translation tool is expected to do. It converts text from one language to another. The main difference is what happens after the translation appears.
• Below the translated text, users see quick options that let them change how the translation sounds. You can ask the tool to make the text more natural, rewrite it in a formal tone, simplify it for a child, or adjust it for academic use. When you choose one of these options, you are taken into the main ChatGPT chat, where you can further edit the text or add your own instructions.
• This makes ChatGPT Translate useful for people who are not just translating words, but also preparing messages, emails, or documents for a specific audience. Instead of copying the translated text into another tool, users can continue working on it in the same place.
• That said, ChatGPT Translate is still limited compared to Google Translate. Right now, it only supports plain text on desktop. While the page mentions image translation, there is no option to upload images yet. The tool also does not support documents, handwriting, websites, or live conversations, all areas where Google Translate has been strong for a long time.
• Google is also improving its translation service. The company recently announced updates powered by Gemini, with better handling of everyday expressions, slang, and local phrases. Google is also testing live speech translation using headphones.
• For now, Google Translate remains the more complete translation tool. But ChatGPT Translate shows a different approach, one that focuses on helping users shape translated text for real use. As OpenAI adds more languages and features, the competition between the two services is likely to grow.

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OpenAI has launched a new translation tool called ChatGPT Translate, taking a clear step into a space that has long been dominated by Google Translate.

The new tool is simple to use and will feel familiar to most people. It comes with two text boxes, one for the text you want to translate and another for the translated result. The tool can automatically detect languages and supports translations to and from more than 50 languages. On a phone browser, users can also speak into the microphone to translate spoken words.

At a basic level, ChatGPT Translate does what any translation tool is expected to do. It converts text from one language to another. The main difference is what happens after the translation appears.

Below the translated text, users see quick options that let them change how the translation sounds. You can ask the tool to make the text more natural, rewrite it in a formal tone, simplify it for a child, or adjust it for academic use. When you choose one of these options, you are taken into the main ChatGPT chat, where you can further edit the text or add your own instructions.

This makes ChatGPT Translate useful for people who are not just translating words, but also preparing messages, emails, or documents for a specific audience. Instead of copying the translated text into another tool, users can continue working on it in the same place.

That said, ChatGPT Translate is still limited compared to Google Translate. Right now, it only supports plain text on desktop. While the page mentions image translation, there is no option to upload images yet. The tool also does not support documents, handwriting, websites, or live conversations, all areas where Google Translate has been strong for a long time.

Google is also improving its translation service. The company recently announced updates powered by Gemini, with better handling of everyday expressions, slang, and local phrases. Google is also testing live speech translation using headphones.

For now, Google Translate remains the more complete translation tool. But ChatGPT Translate shows a different approach, one that focuses on helping users shape translated text for real use. As OpenAI adds more languages and features, the competition between the two services is likely to grow.