Google Translate is borrowing Gboard’s best feature — and it changes everything
A new feature called "Smart Assist" will help you get cleaner voice-to-text transcriptions and translations in Google Translate.
Google is working on a new feature for Google Translate. | Image by Google
Google might be bringing one of the best Gboard features to Translate. A smart-assist tool has been spotted in the Google Translate app code, and it should work similarly to the popular Rambler tool in Gboard.
Smart Assist to bring Rambler functionality to Google Translate
The new Smart Assist feature in Google Translate. | Images by Android Authority
Our colleagues at Android Authority have spotted signs of a new functionality inside the Google Translate app during their usual APK teardowns. The new feature is apparently called "Smart Assist" and should help with voice-to-text transcription and translations in Google Translate.
According to the screenshots (included above), Google has been working on a new mode for Translate. Along with the literal word-for-word translation, the new Smart Assist mode should help clean up spoken words and prepare them for translation.
Just like Rambler.
According to the screenshots (included above), Google has been working on a new mode for Translate. Along with the literal word-for-word translation, the new Smart Assist mode should help clean up spoken words and prepare them for translation.
What is Gboard Rambler?
Google created Rambler to deal with filler words, bad pronunciation, and other artifacts of spoken language. | Image by Google
Google created Rambler to deal with filler words, bad pronunciation, and other artifacts of spoken language. You see, when we speak, we don't sound clear and formal like a well-written article; we use a lot of filler words, pauses, filler sounds, and exclamations, and oftentimes we're just mumbling under our breath.
If you try to transcribe all these extra noises word-for-word, you end up with nonsense or, in the best-case scenario, text that's full of unwanted clutter that needs to be redacted and removed. When trying to translate such voice-to-text input into another language, things get even messier.
If you try to transcribe all these extra noises word-for-word, you end up with nonsense or, in the best-case scenario, text that's full of unwanted clutter that needs to be redacted and removed. When trying to translate such voice-to-text input into another language, things get even messier.
This could change with the new Smart Assist tool, but there might be some limitations.
Smart Assist limitations
Given that Rambler in Gboard is only supported on Pixel 11 devices, there are questions about this new feature and its compatibility.
Another interesting question is whether this Smart Assist tool will be available offline when you're not connected to the big Google data centers, or if it will require an internet connection to work properly.
It's not clear whether the models behind Smart Assist use on-device AI, whether they need to send data online, or whether they use AI in the first place. Gboard Rambler, for example, uses AI models and works differently depending on whether you're online or offline.
Another interesting question is whether this Smart Assist tool will be available offline when you're not connected to the big Google data centers, or if it will require an internet connection to work properly.
It's not clear whether the models behind Smart Assist use on-device AI, whether they need to send data online, or whether they use AI in the first place. Gboard Rambler, for example, uses AI models and works differently depending on whether you're online or offline.
In online (cloud-assisted) mode Rambler is much more accurate and fast, removing complex filler words, fixing mid-sentence self-corrections, and seamlessly switching between different languages. If you're offline, the advanced features are disabled and the tool transcribes your voice with minimal and basic cleanups.
Testing this new feature, Android Authority found that Translate only appears to be planning to support Smart Assist in Conversation mode. The option is unavailable (at the moment) in both Listening and Text-only modes.
Testing this new feature, Android Authority found that Translate only appears to be planning to support Smart Assist in Conversation mode. The option is unavailable (at the moment) in both Listening and Text-only modes.
How often do you use Rambler in Gboard?
1 Votes
Is it a game-changer?
It could be, if executed flawlessly. I've found that sometimes using such smart assistants can result in messier situations than not using them at all.
This Smart Assist tool could, for example, start cutting out important phrases, and even though you probably won't end up in a life-threatening lost-in-translation situation, it could ruin your time abroad.
That said, I'm all for new language tools that can bring people together and remove the aforementioned language barriers. After all, almost ten years spent trying to learn Japanese have brought me only to the basic JLPT N5 level.
This Smart Assist tool could, for example, start cutting out important phrases, and even though you probably won't end up in a life-threatening lost-in-translation situation, it could ruin your time abroad.
It's not clear when Google will roll out the new Smart Assist tool, or whether it will land on all Android phones or be limited to just Pixel 11 devices.
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