Roblox is rolling out a new AI feature today that enables real-time translation of users’ text into various languages. Following this update, the Roblox team is gearing up to introduce a feature that will extend this translation capability to voices, leveraging its AI technology.
With this latest addition, Roblox users can now type messages in their preferred language and instantly see them translated into other supported languages within the gaming environment.
This functionality will be accessible across all Roblox experiences utilizing TextChatService. For instance, a user typing a message in German can have it displayed in English for an English-speaking recipient, while a Korean-speaking user can interact with the message in Korean simultaneously.
The Roblox team views this text translation feature as an initial step towards broader AI-generated translation possibilities in the future.
“We’ve begun utilizing AI to translate in-game content at scale, empowering our community developers to engage with a global audience. With our new real-time AI chat translations, we’re achieving something on Roblox that transcends physical limitations – facilitating communication across language barriers in immersive 3D environments,” stated Daniel Sturman, Roblox’s chief technology officer.
“In the future, we envision every aspect of the user experience on Roblox being fully translated into users’ native languages, including AI-powered voice translation.”
Zhen Fang, Roblox’s head of international, emphasized the platform’s commitment to accessibility and localization, stating that features like these contribute to making the world feel more interconnected on a global scale.
However, this introduction of AI-driven translation features isn’t without its concerns within the Roblox community. The platform has faced previous scrutiny regarding moderation issues and the presence of inappropriate content.
In 2023, there were reports of Sony initially blocking Roblox from launching on PlayStation consoles due to concerns about child safety, although the platform eventually debuted on PlayStation the following year.
In the broader context of the gaming industry, AI technology has been a subject of interest for various companies like Ubisoft and Square Enix. Nonetheless, some remain cautious about its implementation and potential impacts.
Actress Jane Perry, known for her role in Returnal, expressed reservations about the widespread adoption of AI in gaming, highlighting the importance of proceeding with caution.
Elsewhere, CD Projekt utilized AI technology to recreate the voice of a deceased Polish voice actor, Miłogost Reczek, for the Polish-language release of Cyberpunk 2077’s expansion, Phantom Liberty, with the consent of his family.
