Meta has already made Reels a focal point of the Instagram interface on both iPad and mobile devices in regions such as India and South Korea. To help a broader audience access and comprehend Reels in various languages, the company is now expanding its AI-driven translation tool on Instagram and Facebook to include Hindi and Portuguese.
This translation feature was initially introduced in August, supporting English and Spanish, after being previewed at last year’s Meta Connect event. By adding Hindi and Portuguese, Meta is looking to engage creators from its largest user bases, like India and Brazil, to extend their international influence.
“We think there are many talented creators whose potential audiences might not share the same language,” said Instagram chief Adam Mosseri in a post on Instagram in August.
“If we can assist you in connecting with viewers who speak other languages and help you cross cultural and language divides, we can support your growth on Instagram and enhance your experience on the platform,” he continued.
Image Credits:Meta
Viewers can enable automatic translation in their chosen language to watch Reels that were originally produced in a different language.
Creators have the option to activate automatic translation for their Reels by selecting the “Translate your voice with Meta AI” setting before sharing. After previewing the translated video with auto-dubbing and lip-sync, they can also pick which languages to translate into.
Image Credits:Meta
Meta mentioned that it is developing additional AI translation features that will be introduced soon. Facebook Reels already offer AI-powered translations for multiple speakers, and Meta stated that this capability will soon be available to Instagram creators as well.
Beyond voice translation, the company is also working on a tool to translate text or caption stickers added to Reels in supported languages. Once this feature is live, users will be able to choose the “Translate text on Reels” option, which will be especially helpful for those watching videos without audio.
Image Credits:Meta
Additionally, Meta is preparing to launch a new voice-dubbing function that will maintain the creator’s original vocal tone and style. There will also be an updated lip-syncing option that more closely matches mouth movements.
YouTube, Meta’s competitor, has also been developing translation tools for several years. Just last month, YouTube introduced enhancements to its auto-dubbing feature’s lip-sync accuracy, now supporting 20 languages.
