Künstliche Intelligenz: Übersetzen mit eigenem Tonfall: DeepL rüstet Sprach-KI auf

The Köln-based artificial intelligence startup DeepL is significantly expanding its technology for real-time language translation. With new voice models for the "DeepL Voice" application, the German AI pioneer aims to translate spoken words and preserve the unique tone, speed, and emotions of a person's voice across language barriers.

This allows the company to compete against US tech giants like Microsoft, OpenAI, and Google. Real-time voice-to-voice translation becomes central: A recently introduced desktop app for Windows and Mac seamlessly integrates into platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. The app can translate speakers into over 30 languages; the "Speaker Match" feature maintains voice identity in 14 languages initially.

DeepL's CEO, Jarek Kutylowski, emphasized to Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) that "the voice shows who we are; it conveys far more than mere words." The goal is for users to relax and forget there is an AI translation solution in between. Kutylowski stated that the tone should reflect excitement, haste, or any other emotion in the translated voice as well.

When someone speaks with excitement or haste, it should be noticeable in the translated tone. DeepL faces competition from tech giants like Google and OpenAI, which also focus heavily on multimodal speech processing. Kutylowski believes they are well-prepared, focusing on enterprise customers: "For businesses, it's not just about translating an email or a meeting.

It's about building a larger system that handles documents and language consistently across all channels and incorporates company-specific terminology." After announcing layoffs in May, cutting staff by 250 positions or about a quarter of the workforce, DeepL now appears more robust. CEO Kutylowski explained the measures were due to changing workflows in the AI era: "In a world where AI plays an increasingly important role, we also had to adjust our roles and our internal organization."

Today, Kutylowski feels the company is much better positioned, both domestically and internationally, where they are actively hiring again. Founded in 2017, DeepL employs around 900 people and has over 200,000 business customers. The company's investors include well-known venture capital firms such as Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures.