Let’s face it, ever since its invention, Google Translate has been a lifesaver for many of us. The feature helps us translate text approximately, just enough to understand what the sentence is about. Over time, Google Translate has become increasingly accurate in providing precise translations.
But here’s the game-changer – the web version of Google Translate can now convert text from images. Yes, you heard that right! The same technology that powers the AR translation tool for Google Lens, which performs real-time translations on smartphones, is now available on the web version of Google Translate.
You can find the option on the Google Translate website, where you will see a new image tab at the top. After uploading a photo or screenshot from your computer, a translation appears that should (in most cases) be pretty close to the original text.
What Can You Do With Google Translate on the Web Now?
The web interface includes options to copy the text, download the translated image or delete it. Additionally, it lists 113 source languages available (and can detect them automatically) and 133 destination languages.
It’s worth noting that this option uses the same generative adversarial networks (GAN) that power AR Translate for Google Lens. Although Lens has been able to translate images on mobile for years, the latest version, which debuted last year, uses the same technology that powers the Pixel 6’s Magic Eraser, but is now also available on Google One.
This helps the translation appear as if it’s replacing the original text, avoiding any overlapping on the original language.
I put it to the test by randomly choosing an image with a street sign in Chinese. I then repeated the action using English to see if the translations were correct.
The result from Chinese to English is shown below and seems to be accurately translated:
Overall, this new feature is a game-changer for those who need to translate text from images on the web. It’s an upgrade that will make your life much easier, and we’re excited to see what other advancements Google Translate has in store for us in the future.
