Technologies

Google’s AI Live Translation and Learning Tools Are Here. How to Use Them

A Duolingo-like experience can help you practice a new language.

Google Translate is getting an AI upgrade designed to make real-time conversations and language learning easier. The update is rolling out this week in the Translate app on iOS and Android.

The first tool, for live translations, lets you have a back-and-forth conversation with someone by surfacing audio and text translations as you speak, so you can easily follow along. Advanced Gemini models allow for support of more than 70 languages, including Arabic, French, Hindi, Korean and Spanish. Google says its voice and speech recognition models are trained to isolate sounds, so the live translation feature should also work in noisy environments like an airport or a cafe.

I gave the Arabic translation a spin, and it did a good job picking up on even unconventional Iraqi slang. Judging from my intermediate knowledge of Spanish, it also translated my rambling well. I also like that Translate offers both text and audio translations, so you can go with whichever medium you prefer or revisit what was said via the on-screen text.

A second feature is designed to help you practice a new language. You can choose whether you currently have a basic, intermediate or advanced understanding of the language you’re learning and then set a goal. For example, I noted that I wanted to practice Spanish so I could get around the city and have casual conversations (hearkening to my days at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona when I ambitiously dusted off my high school Spanish).

Translate will then surface recommended scenarios like asking for the nearest bus stop, greeting a neighbor or chatting about your hobbies. You can then choose either a listening or speaking exercise. In the listening sessions, you’ll tap the words you hear, and in the speaking one, you can practice having a back-and-forth conversation. The language learning feature is currently available for English speakers practicing Spanish and French, and for Spanish, French and Portuguese speakers practicing English.

«These updates are made possible by advancements in AI and machine learning,» Google Product Manager Matt Sheets said in a blog post. «As we continue to push the boundaries of language processing and understanding, we are able to serve a wider range of languages and improve the quality and speed of translations. And with our Gemini models in Translate, we’ve been able to take huge strides in translation quality, multimodal translation, and text-to-speech capabilities.»

This comes as Google adds other language-specific features like Voice Translate on the Pixel 10 series. That feature can also translate what someone is saying in real time, but while chatting on the phone, and goes the extra mile of mimicking the sound of their voice, instead of superimposing a robotic one. Gemini Live can also have a back-and-forth conversation in a handful of languages. And last year, Google Translate added 110 new languages thanks to AI advancements.

How to access Google Translate’s new tools

The live translate and language learning capabilities in Google Translate are rolling out now on iOS and Android. Live translations are currently limited to users in the US, India and Mexico.

To access the new features, open up the Google Translate app, which you can download in the Apple App Store or Google Play. You’ll see a tab for «Live translate» on the bottom left, and another for «Practice,» the language learning tool, on the right.

When you go into Live translate, you can pick which languages you want to translate and then start talking. The translated audio and text will automatically appear.

Tapping into Practice will prompt you to set up the language, level and goal you’re looking to meet, and then lead you to tailored exercises.

Technologies

YouTubers Sue Amazon, Claim AI Tool Was Trained on Scraped Videos

The lawsuit alleges that Amazon bypassed YouTube protections to collect content for its generative AI video system.

A group of YouTube creators is suing Amazon, accusing the tech giant of secretly scraping their videos to train its AI video model without permission.

The proposed class action lawsuit, filed in federal court in Seattle, alleges Amazon used automated tools to download and extract data from millions of YouTube videos to build and improve its Nova Reel generative AI system — a model that can create short videos from text prompts and images.

At the center of the complaint is how that data was obtained. The plaintiffs claim that Amazon bypassed YouTube’s protections using virtual machines and rotating IP addresses to avoid detection, effectively sidestepping the platform’s safeguards against bulk downloading.

The lawsuit was brought by several creators, including Ted Entertainment (the company behind the H3 Podcast and h3h3 Productions), as well as individual YouTubers and channel operators. They argue that the alleged scraping violated copyright law and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and are seeking damages as well as an injunction to stop the practice.

Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.

The case lands at a pivotal moment for generative AI, as courts weigh whether training on copyrighted material qualifies as fair use and how much control creators retain once their work is used to build these systems. The disputes have often centered on written material, which has been at the center of the AI revolution for several years, while AI video generators such as OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo have emerged more recently.

The lawsuit is one of dozens testing the boundaries of AI training practices, alongside high-profile cases from authors, artists and news organizations, including lawsuits against OpenAI and Meta, all circling the same unresolved question: Where does fair use end and infringement begin?

Technologies

The Galaxy Z TriFold Is Back. You Can Buy It From Samsung Soon

The $2,899 phone paused its sales in March after selling through its inventory, but Samsung is bringing it back to its online store.

Samsung’s $2,899 Galaxy Z TriFold is going back on sale on Friday, following a halt to its sales in March after the foldable phone sold through its inventory. Samsung has announced the TriFold’s return with a countdown clock on the phone’s online store page along with a Wednesday newsletter email sent to customers.

The initial pause, which Samsung said at the time was related to the TriFold being a «super-premium device in limited quantities,» happened after just three months of availability. The TriFold first went on sale in South Korea on Dec. 12 and then arrived in Samsung’s US store on Jan. 30. The TriFold sold out in the US within minutes of going on sale — which I know personally after joining my colleagues that morning in an attempt to buy it. Thankfully Senior Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti succeeded, and then reviewed the TriFold.

It’s unclear whether the Galaxy Z TriFold is now permanently returning to Samsung’s online store or if it is again on sale until its stock sells through. Given that the phone is very expensive, and unfolds to reveal a large, 10-inch display, it wouldn’t be surprising if its stock will be in limited quantities. We’ve asked a Samsung representative to clarify and will update if we hear more.

The Galaxy Z TriFold’s return also comes ahead of the summer season when we expect a slew of other foldable phones: Samsung typically refreshes its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip line in July or August, and Motorola has announced its first book-style Razr Fold phone will also debut during the season. And Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold (or perhaps iPhone Ultra based on latest rumors) could also be teased later this year.

Technologies

Help Us Crown the Most Loved Headphones and Earbuds of 2026

Got a pair you swear by? Take our People’s Picks survey to help us find a winner.

CNET just launched People’s Picks, a series of surveys where actual humans like you vote for the products and services you use. Starting in April, we want you to weigh in on your favorite headphones and earbuds. We’ll pick a winner based on which ones you love the most.

Why we want to hear from you

Our writers and editors test hundreds of products each year, but your real-world experience with these devices is something we can’t replicate in our labs. You’ve used these headphones at the gym, on your commute to work and on long flights, and that perspective is invaluable. Your voice helps others know about the headphones or earbuds you love, too.

«I review a lot of headphones and earbuds for CNET, and there are plenty of great models from the top brands in this survey that I rate highly. I’m always curious about what models people ultimately choose and why, so I’m excited to get your feedback and learn the results of this survey,» says David Carnoy, CNET’s executive editor and headphones expert.

With our survey, we’ll collect answers from real-world users like you. The headphones and earbuds chosen through our 3-minute survey will be featured in our People’s Picks roundup of the top picks based on your recommendation.

Make your voice heard

Whether you swear by a pair of $25 earbuds or love a pair of high-end headphones, your pick counts. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, and after we gather enough information, we’ll tally the results and publish the winners.

Not sure what to pick? Check out our Best Headphones to revisit your favorites before voting.